ECEC Provider in Focus: Kookaburra Child Care Centre

Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre is a long day care centre educating and caring for children birth to five years of age in Mackay, Far North Queensland. 

What is the history of Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre? 

Kookaburra Child Care Centre is a Community based Not for Profit Incorporated Association which has been educating and caring for children in Mackay and surrounds for over 30 years.

Kookaburra was officially opened on the 1st March 1986 by Senator D.Grimes Minister for Community Services.

Since it began operating in 1986 Kookaburra has undergone many changes which included no less than four extensions and several renovations along with upgrades to its natural outdoor play environments. 

Kookaburra began as a small three room Centre run by women from the local community and has grown into one of the largest centres in Mackay now consisting of five rooms and catering for up to 76 children per day.

What is the Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre vision and approach to learning? 

Kookaburra educators view each child as capable, competent, curious, creative, active and self-motivated. 

“We believe that building strong partnerships with families is important to support the continued growth and development throughout children’s first six years of life,” information on the service website notes. 

“Through play, routines, transitions and focused learning and teaching, we guide children’s learning and development across 5 key learning areas: Identity, Wellbeing, Our World, Active Learning and Communication. These key learning areas align with the learning outcomes for children birth to 5 outlined in the EYLF.”

The service also offers a Government Approved Kindergarten program for children in the year before school, which runs every weekday from 9am to 3.30pm and is delivered by a registered Early Childhood Teacher with over seven years of experience teaching Kindergarten. This program is aligned with the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline.

Are there any unique aspects to the Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre offer? 

“What makes Kookaburra so unique is our Educator to child ratios,” information on the website notes. 

“We have a minimum of three Educators in each room in our Centre along with an additional fourth Educator in some rooms. We have a full time non-contact Director to provide support and guide Educators and families at all times.” 

“We are a Not for Profit organisation meaning our profit is invested back into the Centre for upgrades, new toys and equipment and additional Educators to ensure we are providing the most high quality care possible to all children.”

Kookaburra prides itself on its continuity of care and a huge part of ensuring that continuity is long term Educators. 

“We have Educators that have been with our Centre for as little as 12 months right up to 20 years and more than half of our Educators have been with the Centre for five years or more,” the service website notes. 

“Such long serving and dedicated Educators demonstrates how wonderful our care environment is and why it is such a valuable part of our community.”

Learn more about Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre here.