Galston Uniting Church has recognised Amy Kosilo for leading an appreciation project at the Galston Early Learning Centre. She worked with the centre's Preschool team, and the project helped children think about nature, community and caring for Country. Later in the month, Amy Kosilo, Catherine Koutlis and Daniela Palmer attended the 2026 NSW Early Years Nature Connections Conference. The centre plans to grow its Bush Program so children can explore and learn about the natural world.
A Geelong early learning centre, All Star Kids Early Learning Centre, will receive a one-off $6000 grant to start a Bush Kinder program. Local member Christine Couzens announced the funding during a visit to the McKillop Street centre. The money will develop an outdoor bush area with a mural, where children can take part in climbing, leaf collecting and building with sticks. The centre is one of 150 Victorian kindergartens receiving support through the state's $3.6 million Bush Kinder Grants Program.
City of Wanneroo officers are recommending against a pedestrian crossing outside a Landsdale early learning centre, despite a petition signed by 89 people. The centre says children regularly cross Kingsway to reach Brockwell Park and that the road is hard to cross. Officers estimate a crossing could cost up to $200,000 and say a video survey recorded only four people crossing. They instead propose a $30,000 footpath on the south side of Kingsway. The council is expected to vote on the recommendation on October 27.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Molong Early Learning Centre is urgently recruiting qualified educators to fill several vacancies, with more than 70 children on its waiting list. Service director Shanie Duncan said the not-for-profit centre is not at risk of closing, but ongoing staffing shortages could force it to reduce enrolments if mandatory educator-to-child ratios cannot be met. Ms Duncan said workforce shortages across the sector, along with travel distances and fuel costs in regional areas, have made recruitment harder. The centre, established in 1972, is Molong's only long day care facility and plans to introduce a trainee in the coming year.
More than 10,000 extra children could enrol in NSW community preschools under new funding guidelines announced on Sunday, 18 October. The guidelines guarantee teachers and educators pay above award rates. The Universal Preschool Funding Program replaces the Start Strong program and will fund more than 700 community preschools. For the first time, places for 3-year-olds will be fully funded. Out-of-pocket fees for community preschools that charge them will be capped at $20 per day. Deputy Premier Prue Car said the reforms will help keep costs down for working families.
Manilla Early Learning, the only childcare centre in the northern New South Wales town of Manilla, says its annual fee to the state regulator has jumped from $482 to $2737. Director Sara Turner said the increase was 468 per cent and the centre could not easily afford it. She said the centre had not been notified of the rise and questioned what the money would be used for. The NSW Early Learning regulator said the increase was necessary to fund stronger oversight of the sector.
Eleven Edge Early Learning childcare centres in Queensland, South Australia and the ACT have been ordered to close within 48 hours. The centres could not be sold after the group entered voluntary administration in August. Many families had little notice and are now scrambling to find alternative childcare. Administrators at KordaMentha say families are being contacted in writing and given details of nearby services with spare places. Goodstart Early Learning has acquired 31 other centres in the sale process.
Eleven childcare centres run by collapsed operator Edge Early Learning will close, after administrators could not find buyers for them. Administrators KordaMentha found offers for 53 centres in Queensland and South Australia, including 31 proposed for GoodStart Early Learning. Seven closing centres are in Queensland, three in South Australia and one in the ACT. Some parents learned of the closures only days before they take effect, on October 14. Families who prepaid fees will be refunded by the end of October, and parents have been told of nearby centres with some vacancies.
Families of children at several Edge Early Learning centres in Brisbane have been told their centres will permanently close within two days. The childcare provider entered voluntary administration in late August, and administrators KordaMentha ran an urgent sale campaign, but no viable offers were received for the Kelvin Grove centre. Parents were told staff can collect belongings on Thursday, and refunds for advance payments may take until late October or later. Administrators say they have contacted nearby childcare centres, some of which have places available. Goodstart Early Learning recently agreed to acquire 31 Edge centres, conditionally.
Northern Beaches families with babies, toddlers and pre-school children are being encouraged to explore early learning options for 2027. Northern Beaches Council runs seven long day care services for children aged six weeks to five years. It also operates three pre-schools at Manly, Balgowlah and Dee Why, plus 32 family day care educators. Mayor Sue Heins said the programs build confidence and independence through play-based learning. Vacancies are currently available, and families can find out more through council's children's services website.
Billionaire Nicola Forrest has donated more than $500 million to the Coaxial Foundation, the charity she founded to redistribute her wealth. The gift is made up of $125 million in cash and 25 million Fortescue shares. On Friday, the foundation announced $50 million for a partnership with venture capital firm Antler to help female founders access capital, networks and support. A further $30 million will fund early learning for young Aboriginal children through Cape York Partnership. Child and family peak body SNAICC will receive $7.1 million for early childhood learning for First Nations children nationally.
