About Us

The Sanctuary at Hillside – Early Education for Children provides care and education for children from birth to 6 years of age. 

The 85 place centre, opened on Tuesday 10th June, 2014 providing families with a contemporary, purpose built early learning centre designed to support young children to explore, grow, and learn. 

When you choose The Sanctuary at Hillside for your child, peace of mind is assured.  We aim to provide excellence in the care and education program offered to each child and family.

• A nurturing, enjoyable and challenging care and learning environment providing individualised learning and development plans for each child.
• Highly trained and experienced staff working in this demonstration early learning centre designed to train and support new and existing educators.
• A qualified chef to provide nutritious meals made from fresh seasonal produce
• A children’s nature garden providing children with a wealth of opportunities for exploration, play and learning.
• A centre mindful of the impact it has on the environment and as a result will endeavour to leave the smallest footprint as possible.

• A garden where children can assist with the growing and harvesting simple herbs, fruit and vegetables.
• A purpose built kitchen designed to allow children to participate in the preparation of meals. 
• A dining room designed specifically to allow children to come together for shared meals with siblings, friends and family members. 
• A Bush Kinder program where we spend time outdoors at our local linear park and connect with the natural environment. The children are have great respect for the environment and also enjoy our nature walks around the community.

Philosophy - 

At The Sanctuary at Hillside, we believe that every child is a capable, competent, curious, and unique individual. We are committed to providing a happy, safe, inclusive, homely, and enriching environment where children feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow and learn at their own pace. 

Our philosophy is built on meaningful relationships—with children, families, educators, and the wider community. We view families as our most valuable partners and respect their role as a child’s first and most influential teachers. We actively seek family input and ensure their culture, routines, and aspirations are reflected in our daily practices and educational program. 

We are committed to building strong, respectful partnerships with families, working together to support each child’s learning and wellbeing. We value open, honest communication and create opportunities for parents to be involved in the centre’s daily life and decision-making. By sharing knowledge, celebrating successes, and navigating challenges together, we aim to empower parents in their vital role and provide a consistent, supportive environment for every child—both at home and in our centre. 

Children’s rights, dignity, and perspectives are at the heart of everything we do. We listen deeply to their ideas, interests, and questions, using these to shape a curriculum that is play-based, inquiry-led, and responsive. Our learning environments encourage exploration, problem-solving, risk-taking, and confidence-building in a safe and nurturing space. 

Our educators foster emotional intelligence and resilience by supporting children to name and express their feelings, develop empathy, and navigate challenges with confidence. Through guided interactions, emotional coaching, and reflective conversations, we help children build the skills needed to manage stress, resolve conflict, and adapt to change. We believe that fostering these abilities early in life lays the foundation for a keen sense of self and lifelong wellbeing. 

Our team is made up of passionate, reflective professionals who work collaboratively to provide intentional teaching, meaningful learning experiences, and consistent emotional support. We value ongoing learning, critical reflection, and mentoring, and believe in growing alongside the children in our care. 

Educators play a significant role in shaping the warm, welcoming atmosphere of our centre. We strive to create a space where children and families feel safe, respected, and truly at home. Through genuine relationships, attentive care, and consistent routines, we foster a sense of security and belonging. From the way we greet families in the morning to the way we guide children through their day, every moment is an opportunity to build connection, trust, and joy. 

We embrace nature and sustainability as vital elements of our philosophy and daily practice. Our indoor and outdoor environments offer rich, sensory experiences that connect children to the land, foster curiosity about the natural world, and promote care for the environment. We involve children in sustainable practices such as growing and preparing our own food, composting, recycling, and conserving resources. Through these hands-on experiences, children learn about responsibility, interdependence, and the importance of protecting the planet for future generations. We aim to instil a lifelong respect for nature and empower children to be thoughtful, proactive stewards of their world. 

We foster a deep sense of belonging through shared mealtimes, group experiences, and meaningful community engagement. Our vision is to raise compassionate, resilient, and socially responsible individuals who feel confident in themselves and connected to those around them. 

Together with our families and community, we are proud to provide a sanctuary for learning, belonging, and growth.

CHILDREN’S LEARNING

We expect that children will leave us with the best version of themselves as we have challenged, supported and enriched their minds to explore and master so much.  Our role is not to prepare them for school but to prepare them for life, work and being a successful member of society, having purpose, having a strong self-esteem and self-image. 

SUPPORTING FAMILIES

Without a strong and capable family, the chances of children being healthy and therefore capable of reaching their potential is limited – we are here to gear, support, educate and refer families to other services.  This will ensure the best start for children. 

SUSTAINABILITY

We believe passionately about caring for our environment, the soil, the plants, the animals and the air that we breath.  I feel that if we connect with country as the people of the Kulin Nation – the Wurundjeri people did before us we will be doing justice to our work and the future of the land we live on. 

NATURE & THE ENVIRONMENT

We want to see children being curious and wondering about things in a scientific way.  I would like to see children noticing, questioning, exploring, problem solving, collaborating and therefore = learning through nature. Birds, insects (and other animals) the weather, the earth, plants and plant life. 

TEAM COHESION

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