After 15 months at Kookaburra Cottage, I made the difficult decision to withdraw my child due to ongoing concerns that were never adequately addressed. There was constant staff turnover, and new educators rarely introduced themselves. Communication was poor, especially at pick-up time. I often left with no idea how my child's day had gone. The environment frequently felt chaotic and overstimulating, with staff often appearing disengaged or uninterested in the children. It was not uncommon to see educators standing in groups chatting while supervision and meaningful interaction were lacking. That said, there were a few exceptions among the staff who made a genuine effort to communicate professionally and engage meaningfully with the children. These educators took time to build rapport not only with me but especially with my child, setting up personal and interest-based activities that were clearly thoughtful and developmentally appropriate. As a qualified early childhood educator myself, I shared feedback with management on multiple occasions, but the same overarching issues persisted, suggesting either a lack of internal direction or a culture where staff are not supported to improve. While some staff showed real dedication, overall the centre did not provide the calm, nurturing, and professional environment I expect for young children. I hope management takes this feedback seriously and makes positive changes for the families still attending.

Our child was lost in the chaos, so much so, he had head injuries and no one noticed nor was an incident report made. Some staff were absolutely wonderful, while others were not and often spoke negatively of our child. When we advised we were taking him out, his care only declined more. Response: Peter this is incorrect and gaslighting doesn’t improve the safety of young people.

Prior to Kookaburra Cottage opening we loved watching the transformation as the day care centre was being built. The owners, Jenny and Peter have put their heart and soul into establishing this beautiful centre and in providing (much needed) additional early education services for the local community in the mid-Mountains. We were very excited when we heard that Kookaburra Cottage was opening in February 2023, and that our son was offered a position at the centre. Since our son has commenced his early education at Kookaburra Cottage (now nearly 10 months), we have clearly observed how far he has come with his confidence and social interaction skills. The educators at the centre are committed, caring and constantly go above and beyond in making sure that our son is made to feel secure and happy. He loves his friends and educators (he high fives/hugs/blows kisses at them all during pick-up, and names and whispers ‘good night’ to each of them before going to bed every night). With living in the beautiful Blue Mountains we are so fortunate in having the benefits of being exposed to the lovely natural environment and outdoors in our surroundings. This is also inspired at Kookaburra Cottage where the children are encouraged to participate and engage in outdoor play and educational activities such as bark painting, outdoor storytelling, water play and making tree faces etc. We also love the yummy and healthy chef-curated meals prepared daily at the centre by Matt (we are quite envious!). The educators at Kookaburra Cottage are amazing, incredibly dedicated and should be highly commended in what they do every day, particularly as they play a huge role in nurturing, educating and being a significant part of our son’s childhood journey. It is in no doubt in my mind that any child who attends Kookaburra Cottage (presently and in the future) will also experience the shared love and generosity which the staff at Kookaburra Cottage have also extended to us. Thank you, Kookaburra Cottage - we are so grateful for all your care/support, and being part of our extended family village.

Kookaburra cottage encompasses all the attributes of a family centered, professional and needs based childcare. Our daughter started attending after her 2nd birthday, having previously been at home with my partner, and minded by our parents when we needed. Finding the right match for her was paramount in ensuring she was well cared for, safe, and her specific needs emotionally and physically were accommodated. Kookaburra cottage, even as a new centre, has gone above and beyond. We could not be happier with our choice, and our daughter is thriving because of the love and support that kookaburra provides for her and us. This is also the only centre we came across, where there is a strong focus on connecting with nature, through outdoor play. The staff will always take the time to talk about my daughters day and how she is progressing at drop off and pick up times, while also connecting through internal platforms outside of hours. I love kookaburra cottage! Thank you for all you do.

I cannot speak highly enough of our experience with Kookaburra Cottage. The staff are simply wonderful and really go above and beyond to accomodate the individual needs of the children and families. The director is so passionate and is prompt to respond to emails regarding the care of our daughter. The owners are incredibly genuine and lovely. I have never heard of any other centre where the owner will personally check in outside of operating hours because they know your little one has been unwell or has had a significant life change. I was incredibly anxious about transitioning to childcare post covid and I can honestly say Kookaburra Cottage has alleviated any worries I had. My daughter comes home happy, bursting with excitement to tell me about her day and frequently asks to go and see her favourite educators and her new little friends, even on non daycare days.