McKenzie Street Children’s Centre

Meeting
Victoria Kindergarten
4.1 /5
27 reviews

Childcare and kindergarten in Wonthaggi, Victoria

Welcome to McKenzie Street Children’s Centre. Our daycare and early learning centre is ideally located for families in Wonthaggi, North Wonthaggi, South Dudley and St Clair. McKenzie Street Children’s Centre offers long day care and kindergarten for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.

Our purpose-built childcare and kindergarten centre in Wonthaggi offers innovative early learning programs in a safe and nurturing environment. We have two large outdoor spaces, with an edible indigenous garden, established fruit trees, a mud kitchen, two sandpits, a bike track, and multiple decking spaces for imaginative play. Each classroom is easily accessible, filled with natural light and equipped with natural resources. We have a team of long-standing, highly-trained educators. They strive to create a community atmosphere, ensuring both children and their families feel comfortable and safe. We utilise the local cricket oval for regular outings and sports activities. We maintain a strong connection with local schools, who visit our service to prepare kindergarten children for their transition to school.

Why you’ll love Wonthaggi Children’s Centre

Spacious outdoor environments

Passionate, qualified educators

Nappies and wipes provided

Chef-prepared meals

Government-approved Kindergarten program

Family communication app

Extended/flexible hours

Incursions/excursions

Allergy and anaphylaxis aware

Sun protection aware

Meet our Centre Manager

Tash

  • Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood)
“I believe that by showing kindness, understanding, empathy, and maintaining high expectations, we can inspire children to achieve great things.”

I began my career in early learning in 2017 and joined the team at Mackenzie Street Children’s Centre in 2024. What I love most about my job is the opportunity to engage with the children, their families, and my colleagues. Every child is unique, and their needs constantly evolve. As educators, we continually learn alongside the children, which requires adaptability and quick thinking. I believe that by showing kindness, understanding, empathy, and maintaining high expectations, we can inspire children to achieve great things.

Attending a dedicated early childhood education and care centre provides children with a foundation for a successful future. It enables them to build new relationships, engage in diverse play situations, and follow different routines. It also supports their transition to school. Importantly, school readiness is about developing the skills necessary to learn the ABCs and 123s, not just memorising them.

We are a team of 25, each bringing various skills, qualifications, and experience. To support our families, we offer a free coffee machine in our foyer and often provide muffins for breakfast. We have a community pantry at the front with a hygiene station and non-perishable foods. Building strong relationships with our families starts from the first impression. We prioritise open and honest communication, recognising that families know their children best.

I look forward to welcoming your family to our early education centre in Wonthaggi.

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Our innovative early learning programs

At our early learning centre in Wonthaggi, our experienced educators and teachers continually seek innovative ways to enrich your child’s education. Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, we offer a variety of engaging and diverse learning experiences, including:

Sustainability

Our team offers a creative arts program that uses sustainable products. Children also utilise recycled materials that families donate for various activities throughout the centre. We also have compost bins on each food trolley.

Inclusion

We create a sense of belonging for your child ensures they feel heard and empowered to make choices, fostering their independence. We celebrate each child’s unique strengths, helping them to thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.

STEM

We encourage your child to ask questions, experiment, and problem-solve, all while engaging their natural curiosity. By fostering this inquisitive mindset, we help them develop critical thinking skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

Music and movement

Our exclusive Rhythm and Movement for Self-Regulation (RAMSR) program is designed to develop fundamental skills that help support children’s self-regulation, memory, and concentration. It is an innovative approach to holistic learning, development and well-being in early childhood.

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Age-appropriate early learning

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(0-2 years)

Seedlings Room

In the Seedlings Room, our primary goal is to support children in reaching their developmental milestones while fostering secure and trusting relationships. We create a nurturing environment that helps children transition into care with ease. Our learning activities also promote physical, emotional, and cognitive growth, ensuring each child feels safe and valued.

  Next: Foliage Room
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(2-3 years)

Foliage Room

The Foliage Room focuses on meeting developmental milestones, building relationships with peers, and developing self-help skills, including toilet training. Our educators aim to create a supportive environment where children can build trusted relationships and enhance their social, language and independence skills.

Previous: Seedlings Room Next: Buds Room
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(3-4 years)

Buds Room

In the Buds Room, our learning goals include fostering peer relationships, developing self-help skills, and encouraging independence, such as name recognition. We focus on developing social skills and building trusted relationships with educators, promoting a sense of community and individual growth. This also prepares children for more structured learning in kindergarten.

Previous: Foliage Room Next: Flowers Room
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(4-6 years)

Flowers Room

The Flowers Room prepares children for school by focusing on peer relationships, self-help skills, social skills, developing a sense of responsibility for their belongings, and trusted relationships with educators. Our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers provide structured learning experiences to develop literacy, numeracy skills and social skills. We ensure children are academically and emotionally ready for their transition to school.

Previous: Buds Room  
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Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten program

Our kindergarten programs are tailored to meet your child’s individual learning needs across numeracy, literacy, emotional and social development, resilience, and self-regulation.

Our early learning centre offers the VIC Government-approved Kindergarten program, supporting your child’s development and well-being from now, at school and beyond. In Victoria, 3 and 4-year-old children are able to access a funded kindergarten program led by a Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teacher. If eligible, your child will be able to participate in the Government-approved Kindergarten program, at no cost, up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year. Talk to us about how this reduces your out-of-pocket costs.

The added benefits of our kindergarten program include:

  • Extended long day care opening hours
  • Open all year round (excl. public holidays)
  • Programs developed and delivered by our Early Childhood Teachers
  • Exclusive music and movement program for self-regulation
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We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating

Thanks to the in-house chef at our Wonthaggi child care centre, your child can expect healthy, nutritious, and yummy meals. We offer a rotating seasonal menu, providing breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack freshly made daily. We cater to all dietary requirements.

What a typical day looks like for your child

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Arrival at the centre

Your child will be welcomed by our team of educators, who will ensure the morning transition from home to centre goes as smoothly as possible. On arrival, share information about your child’s specific needs for the day.

  Next: Mealtimes
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Mealtimes

Our centre chefs prepare a nutritious menu for your child to sit down and eat. This is a great time for everyone to share stories from the day. Educators model healthy eating practices, social behaviours and support children’s growing independence with mealtime routines.

Previous: Arrival at the centre Next: Infant care
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Infant care

If you have an infant, we spend one-on-one time with them to establish a connection. Educators talk gently and respond to babies’ cues. We use songs, games, and conversations to strengthen relationships and build language skills.

Previous: Mealtimes Next: Play-based learning
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Play-based learning

Your child is naturally curious. They want to learn and explore, which is why we teach through play-based learning. It supports language, motor skills, memory, emotions and social relationships. Educators plan play-based learning experiences based on children’s interests and goals.

Previous: Infant care Next: Sleep, rest and relaxation
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Sleep, rest and relaxation

We match routines to your child’s individual needs. Opportunities for rest and relaxation help make them feel safe. Play-based learning experiences are provided for older children who no longer don’t sleep in centre.

Previous: Play-based learning Next: Heading home
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Heading home

As your child prepares to head home, this is your opportunity to speak with our friendly educators about your child’s day and everything they learnt. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow.

Previous: Sleep, rest and relaxation  

Communicating with families

We prioritise clear and consistent communication with families to foster a strong partnership in supporting each child’s development. We ensure families feel informed, involved, and confident in their child’s early learning journey.

Our families love hearing about their child’s progress and the experiences they’re having day to day. We share these moments through centre newsletters, our Xplor App, one-on-one meetings, and at various centre events.

Fees

The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.

  • Nursery0 – 2 years

    $168.00
  • Toddler2 – 3 years

    $168.00
  • Kindergarten3 – 5 years

    $146.50

Child Care Subsidy Estimator

Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.*

1-4 days = full day session; 5 days = 10 hour per day sessions

CCS Estimator results

  • Estimated subsidy

    $0.00
  • Total fees

    $0.00
  • Out-of-pocket cost

    $0.00

*This estimator provides an estimate only and is based on the following assumptions:

  • Accuracy and currency of family income information entered;
  • Family CCS entitlements include 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. Please note your family may be entitled to less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight – if you are unsure we recommend you use the comprehensive CCS estimator in the link below.
  • Where 1-4 days of care is selected, full day sessions apply (being full operational hours of the centre, which can vary between centres)
  • Where 5 days of care is selected, 10-hour per day sessions apply (ie, 50 hours p/w to optimise 100 hours of CCS subsidised care across the fortnight)

Where a family’s CCS entitlements include less than 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, please use the comprehensive CCS calculator as a guide via the link below.

For a more complete subsidy estimation, check out our comprehensive CCS calculator here.

Calculate my subsidy

Frequently asked questions

A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.

On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.

Our Family Support Team will add your child’s name to our waitlist if one of our childcare centres is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as a place becomes available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review availability, and you will receive a text message confirming whether you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. If you would like an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call.

Our Family Support Team can also help you find more G8 early learning centres near you, with the same offerings at the Nurture One centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

It’s common for a child to experience separation anxiety when they first start child care. When you’re getting ready to start child care, you can help your child overcome anxieties by visiting the child care service together for a Stay and Play session, and easing into new routines at home.

Read more tips about how to make the transition easier for your child.

Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.

For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.

It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.

Nurture One uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.

After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.

If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Nurture One is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without requiring families to provide documentation.

Contact us

We look forward to welcoming your family.