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Affinity Education Group celebrates the opening of more than 250 centres in 2025
Freya Lucas
Feb 03, 2025
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Long day care (LDC) provider Affinity Education Group is celebrating a new milestone, the opening of more than 250 services around Australia.
As of January 2025, Affinity Education Group owns and operates 255 centres with a further three centres under construction, which places the company as Australia’s third largest provider of early education and childcare.The milestone follows the acquisition of sixteen centres and opening of an additional newly built centre late in December 2024, investments which will support the availability of early learning by over 1,300 additional places.
The expansion, Affinity CEO Tim Hickey said, will provide additional economic, social, and educational benefits for Australian families, as well as providing career opportunities to more than 500 employees.
"It’s exciting to start 2025 reaching a new milestone,” Mr Hickey said.
"Our promise at Affinity is Potential, Realised, and we're quickly identifying the talents, experience and passion of our newest employees, while getting to know our newest enrolled children and families,” he added.
On the New South Wales Central Coast, thirteen centres previously owned by the Pilot Group and located between Port Macquarie and Kincumber were acquired by Affinity, comprising well-known centres including:
- Bangalay Child Care & Education Centre
- Bright Beginnings Children’s Centre
- The Beach Early Learning Centre Erina
- Little Beginnings Fernhill Road
- Little Beginnings at Hillsborough Road
- The Beach Early Learning Centre Kincumber
- Little Beginnings at Kolodong
- Little Flippers Kindergarten
- Little Beginnings at Maryville
- Port Eco Kids Village
- The Beach Early Learning Centre Tuggerah
- Little Beginnings at Warners Bay
- The Beach Early Learning Centre Wyong
In Victoria, three centres previously owned by Nino Early Learning in Craigieburn and Point Cook were acquired which have been rebranded:
- Kids Academy Early Learning Craigieburn
- Kids Academy Early Learning Point Cook
- Papilio Early Learning Point Cook
Also in Victoria, Affinity’s latest greenfield development - Papilio Early Learning Hoppers Crossing - received Department approval to open late in December 2024.
The December 2024 growth at Affinity Education Group follows two Queensland-based acquisitions which took place earlier in the year, Kidi Kingdom Hillcrest and Leading Edge Kallangur.
Commenting on the transition to being owned and operated by Affinity, Centre Manager Katherine Fawcett from Little Flippers Taree said she and her team had been supported from day one.
“I’ve noticed that our needs and feedback are responded to quickly which is building our confidence that we’ve joined a great company,” she said.
“I’m also really impressed by the systems Affinity uses to support us in our roles, along with the multiple departments in the Centre Support Office – there is definitely a big load being taken off my plate of responsibilities.”
Alignment with Affinity’s Values including Living The Team Spirit and Going Above and Beyond has been easy for Katherine’s team.
“I absolutely love the value of Creating Shining Stars and the way Affinity encourages us to recognise our team regularly for the important work they do, we are feeling very culturally aligned which is important,” she said.
At The Beach Early Learning Tuggerah, Affinity’s new leadership team Kelly Gray and Holly Gaffey have spent the past six years harnessing their holistic pedagogy towards creating safe, caring, and inclusive learning environments.
“The rollover to Affinity Education has been a big learning experience, and we are continuing to learn the Affinity Way,” Centre Manager Kelly said.
“We have many shining stars within our centre and look forward to seeing these wonderful educators thrive working for Affinity.”
Learn more about Affinity here.
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