Koala Childcare & Early Learning - Warrnambool

Friendly staff, convenient location, long opening hours and huge outdoor play area with a new spacious building. What else could you expect from a childcare centre? 

Hasanga - parent

Best childcare centre by far, I have no hesitation leaving my child there because I know she will be well looked after by friendly, caring and engaging educators! 

Sophie - parent

We have two sons who both attend Koala. After searching and trying a couple of centres this is by far the best day care we have been to. The staff are like part of our family and we trust them completely with our boys. We’ll be staying here for the next couple of years. 

Jolene - parent

• Local community visitors and excursions

• School readiness program

At Koala Childcare & Early Learning Warrnambool, the educators believe that each child is on their own unique journey that shapes the person they are and who they will become. Just like chapters in a book, they understand that each child steps through their ‘story’ at their own pace and in their own time.

The team believes that learning is a lifelong journey and that early childhood education and care provides the foundation for learning for life. Children make sense of the world around them through the use of processes such as exploration, collaboration and problem solving across all aspects of the curriculum. They develop dispositions such as curiosity, persistence and creativity and use play to investigate, imagine and explore ideas, follow and extend their own interests.

The educators are key to supporting children on their journey and believe that relationships with families and community are essential for supporting children to be global citizens and helping them to reach their potential.

Over the next 12 months, the centre is committed to grow as a service and as a team, building relationships, not just with the families who use the service but also with the greater community.

One of my favorite parts of my role is our engagement with the local community. It's a great feeling to feel that we are able to contribute back in any way to some of the local causes and charities. This year through our Christmas bake sale, we were able to donate over $800 to food share Warrnambool and MacKillop Family Services to spend on food and toys for families in need. This was a definite highlight of the year for me.

Gill Marsden, Service Manager, Koala Childcare & Early Learning Warrnambool

Koala Childcare & Early Learning Warrnambool understands that promoting children’s nutrition and health is an important aspect of providing a quality child care and early education service.  It is crucial that children are offered healthy, nutritious meals throughout the day and enjoy social, positive mealtime experiences and discussions as part of their overall growth, development and knowledge.

The centre’s menu is prepared by a professionally qualified centre cook in consultation with families, educators, the children and recognised authorities such as Nutrition Australia. The centre can accommodate individual dietary requirements due to family preferences, cultural background, allergies or food intolerances, by working closely and in consultation with families to make sure individual children’s needs are met. 

A positive attitude towards healthy eating is embedded into the curriculum and daily routines, for instance with their  interactive cooking classes; menu development; discussion of food choices; explaining the role of food and culture; educators modeling healthy eating; and making meal times a pleasant, social occasion.