Goldfields Children's Centre

Welcome to the Goldfields Family Centre

Kindergarten

The Central Goldfields Shire provides three and four-year-old kindergarten from the Goldfields Family Centre.

The Centre provides an open ended learning program that incorporates both expected routines and emerging opportunities to nurture children’s innate curiosity and extend their connective understanding of the world.

The learning program emerges from the children’s interests, supporting their sense of agency as they identify and build on skills of self-understanding. Provided play experiences engage children’s interaction in visual art expression, music, drama and storytelling.

The program supports children in developing a strong sense of connection within our community through establishing links with local people and services. Excursions are planned throughout the years that provide the children with rich learning experiences.

Families are the foundational participants in our kindergarten learning program. They are considered to be valued partners in their child’s learning and development.

By working together, the best educational outcomes for children are supported.

Our curriculum is informed by both National and State Government Curriculum Frameworks:

• The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (EYLF): Belonging Being and Becoming
• The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework

GOVERNMENT FUNDING

The Victorian Government provides funding to make kindergarten free so that all children have the opportunity to participate in a kindergarten program in the two years before school.

For more information about Council's kindergarten program contact the Goldfields Family Centre on 03 5461 6500.

Long Day Care

Council's Goldfields Family Centre offers a long day care service for families.

The service features an embedded developmental, educational and creative program that is planned in response to individual children’s and group needs guided by the Practice Principles and Outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework.

We provide care for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years.

Gems 6 weeks - 18mths

Opal 18mths - 3yo

Dynamite 3years - 4 yo.

Pioneer 4 years - 5 years.

Centre Hours

Monday to Friday 6.45am to 6pm

Full day session is 6.45 am to 6pm and includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

Centre tours are welcomed. Please make an appointment we do our best to make the time suit you.

Fees

$108.00 per day (as at Jan 2021)

The Commonwealth Government offers assistance to eligible families through the Child Care Subsidy. This subsidy is designed to assist families in accessing childcare and is offered through Centrelink. For further information visit the Australian Government - Department of Human Services website or call 13 61 50.

Educators

The Long Day Care service is provided by a professional team of educators with recognised qualifications in early childhood and development, kindergarten education and first aid, asthma and anaphylaxis.

Nutrition

The daily menu is planned by a qualified cook based on our nutrition policy to ensure all food and drink consumed at the Centre is nutritional and provides 50 – 75% of a child’s recommended nutritional requirements. Individual dietary and allergy (at the recommendation of medical practioners) or cultural needs are also provided for.

For more information about the Goldfields Family Centre Long Day Care service and vacancies contact the Goldfields Family Centre on 03 5461 6500 or email

Our philosophy

Our philosophy is to provide a community of learning for all children, families and Educators, within a healthy and respectful environment where everyone has a right to feel safe, be heard and have opportunities to take acceptable risks. Our practice is underpinned by principles of shared learning, secure, respectful relationships, reflective practice and professionalism. We put our children - their learning, safety and well-being - at the heart of everything we do.

We strive to provide a culturally inclusive emotionally safe environment where we all feel accepted and welcomed. Our differences and abilities are supported including and valuing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. We believe in promoting sustainable practices in everyday learning. Educators, children and families work together to show a growing appreciation for the natural environment.

We value holistic education and advocate for all children’s right to quality learning experiences. We view children as capable, competent learners rich in potential and able to engage in deep learning. We acknowledge that learning can happen anywhere and at any time. Within Goldfields Family Centre’s diverse settings we aim to provide programs which are responsive to children, are based on research and knowledge-based evidence on how children learn and develop.

We are dedicated to collaborating with and embracing our wider community – both locally and more broadly in the early childhood sector.

At Goldfields Family Centre we are committed to continuing to reflect on what we do and how we do it at all levels of the organisation. We will ensure that we are all embracing change and ongoing improvement to continue being leaders and role models in early childhood education