GC Suns, Autism Queensland and Kool Beanz team up for themed ECECE service

AFL team the Gold Coast Suns have teamed up with Autism Queensalnd and early childhood education and care (ECEC) provider Kool Beanz to create a 203-place AFL-themed ECEC service.

Gold Coast Suns Chief Executive Mark Evans and Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates turned the sod on a block of vacant land next door to Metricon Stadium earlier this week where the $10 million facility will be built. 

As well as 13 learning spaces, the service will feature an art room, library, dedicated lego space, animal farm and man-made creek. A highlight of the space, designers said, will be a large auditorium which will allow the service to host spectators for stage performances, presentations and graduations.

“This project has been more than five years in the making, researching leading operators worldwide, gathering inspiration and ideas to ensure we are creating a first-class service,” Kool Beanz Academy founder Bruce Coulson told local publication mygc.com.au.

“We look forward to partnering with both the Gold Coast Suns and Autism Queensland to further solidify this

project as a unique learning environment for children never seen before”.

The service is slated to open in mid-2022, creating 45 jobs for the local community. Mr Evans said the build was part of the team’s broader vision of contributing to the local community in a meaningful way. 

“Since our inception we’ve strived to mean more to our community than just the Gold Coast’s AFL team,” Mr Evans said.

“We want to have a lasting impact on the next generation of talented children growing up on the Gold Coast and hopefully both on and off the football field.”

For the original coverage of this story please see here.