Our Bunyip educators are warm, hands-on and genuinely invested in every child. Families often tell us how engaged our team is. They’re down on the floor playing, talking and learning alongside the children, not watching from the side.

We know starting childcare is a big step. Our educators take the time each child needs to settle, getting to know their routines, what comforts them and what makes them curious. Many parents tell us their quiet, hesitant child now runs through the door with a smile.

Our long-standing team and low staff turnover mean your child sees the same familiar faces every day. That consistency helps children feel safe and confident, and lets our educators really understand each child.

Every educator holds, or is working towards, an early childhood qualification, and our kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher. 

Our team also holds:
A current Working With Children Check
First aid and CPR
Emergency anaphylaxis management, including EpiPen use
Emergency asthma management
Food handling certification

Our team takes part in regular professional development, mentoring and first aid refreshers, so their skills stay current.

You’ll always know how your child’s day went. Through our parent app, you’ll get daily photos and updates covering meals, sleeps, activities and the special moments worth sharing. You can message your child’s educators directly through the app, so it’s easy to pass on a quick note or ask a question during the day.

Before your child starts, we’ll get to know your family, your child’s routines and any needs they have. Together we’ll plan a settling-in approach that suits your child, whether that takes a few days or a few weeks.

We see you as your child’s first teacher. What you share about home, from a new word to a new interest, helps us plan learning that builds on it. Our educators are always happy to chat at drop-off and pick-up, and you can book a longer conversation any time.

Each child also has a developmental portfolio of artwork, photos and our observations. It tracks how your child grows with us, and it’s yours to keep when they move on.

Belonging
We want every child and family to feel at home from day one. Our homely centre and settled team help children feel safe, known and ready to learn.

Curiosity
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we see children as capable, curious learners. Their questions and interests shape what we explore together.

Connected to community
Bunyip is a close-knit town, and we’re proud to be part of it. Weekly visits to Hillview Bunyip Aged Care and regular outings into the local area help children build real relationships and a sense of place.

Learning through nature
Through weekly bush kinder and plenty of outdoor play, children learn about the natural world through hands-on exploration. They climb, dig, build and discover every week.

Partnership with families
Your child’s learning starts at home, so we build on it. We value your ideas and work with you to support your child.

Raising the bar
As a family-owned group, we hold ourselves to a high standard. We work hard to deliver quality care and education for every child, every day.

Our program is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and follows the Early Years Learning Framework. Learning is play-based and led by children’s interests.

👵 Intergenerational Learning – Every week, children visit residents at Hillview Bunyip Aged Care to share stories, songs, games and art. Children build empathy, confidence and communication skills, and form real friendships with older members of our community.

🌿 Weekly Bush Kinder – Children head out to explore the natural environment around Bunyip. They climb, build, discover bugs and plants, and learn to take healthy risks, building resilience, problem-solving skills and a love of the outdoors.

🎵 Music and Movement – Songs, dances, rhythm and instruments that build listening skills, language, coordination and self-expression.

🌳 Mixed-Age Outdoor Play – Our outdoor space gives children of different ages the chance to play together. Older children learn to be patient and caring, and younger children learn by watching and joining in.

🚒 Monthly Incursions – Visits from emergency services and community groups covering sustainability, animals, culture, health and dental care, music and live performance.

📒 Developmental Portfolio – A collection of your child’s artwork, photos and our observations. It’s yours to keep when they move on.

Our 4-year-old kindergarten program is led by a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and is designed to give children a confident, happy start to Prep.

Kinder at Birches Bunyip is play-based and purposeful. Children learn through projects, conversations, games and hands-on experiences that follow their interests. Our teacher makes sure every child is building the skills they’ll need at school.

Through the year, children develop:

Early literacy: recognising letters and sounds, storytelling, and early writing and drawing
Early numeracy: counting, patterns, shapes, sorting and measuring
Confidence and independence: speaking up in a group, trying new things and solving problems
Social skills: sharing, turn-taking, making friends and working as a team
Emotional skills: naming feelings, managing frustration and bouncing back
Self-care: managing belongings, packing a bag and following routines

Our kinder children also take part in bush kinder and our intergenerational visits to Hillview, which build resilience, empathy and confidence beyond the classroom.

Because kinder runs within long day care, you get a full kindergarten program with the convenience of 9, 10 and 12 hour sessions, open 6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Child safety isn’t a box we tick. It shapes every decision we make, from who we hire to how our rooms and yard are set up to how we listen to children.

We follow Victoria’s Child Safe Standards across everything we do. Every educator holds a current Working With Children Check, first aid, CPR, anaphylaxis and asthma management, so they’re ready to respond if something happens.

Every outing, from bush kinder to our aged care visits, is carefully planned. We complete a risk assessment, take the right number of educators, and carry first aid kits, children’s medical information and emergency contacts.

Inside the centre, our rooms and outdoor spaces are set up so educators can supervise children at all times. Most importantly, we create an environment where children feel safe, respected and heard. If you ever have a question or concern, our centre director is always available to talk it through.