Goodstart stories
Goodstart recognises excellence and impact at 2025 National Goodies awards
Goodstarters from across the nation gathered to celebrate best practice at the 2025 National Goodies awards this week.
Goodstart Early Learning Childcare Centre Thurgoona is located in a residential area, close to local schools shops and transport routes.
We are a 90 place childcare centre which caters for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years old. Our operating hours are 6.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, closed all public holidays. We provide nutritionally balanced meals to each age group to ensure they are receiving their daily dietary requirements.
Our educators provide fun and exciting programs to engage your children in experiences that will promote development and allow them to explore the world around them.
Inside, all of the rooms - from Nursery to Kindergarten / Preschool - are all set up in line with an Early Years Learning Framework, with sensory and play based learning opportunities. Colourful, stimulating surrounds ensure the children have the chance to grow and develop through sensory, play-based learning.
Our Storypark platform, as well as regular family nights and emailed newsletters, enable us to stay in close contact with parents and families, ensuring open and clear communication. This also means we can tailor each program to the child’s individual needs, interests and strengths – as well as the strong level of cultural diversity in our centre.
Outside, we have three areas all with age appropriate play spaces and equipment. Our centre is lucky to have an extra large playground - with sandpits, fort, garden beds, mud kitchen, boat, tan bark area, bike track, undercover verandah and lots of shade - to entice the children into the natural world, help them develop a respect for their environment and enable them to participate in both planned and spontaneous physical activity.
We also have a cook on premises five days a week and we provide breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack. The meals that we provide are healthy and nutritious and we also cater for children who have allergies to certain foods.
Community is also important to us and through visits to the centre and participation in events and activities throughout the year we are able to enrich the learning experience. Art and music experiences are provided on a daily basis which allow the children to freely express their creativity.
Drop in and say hello! We would love to make you and your family welcome and the centre and discuss how we can start your child on a journey of lifelong learning.

I completed my Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to 12years) with Charles Sturt University in 2005, working as a teacher since 2006. I have worked for Goodstart for 9 years, and have been a Centre Director for 5 years; joining the Thurgoona Team in 2025.
I am passionate about providing high quality education and care to children, that supports their rights and needs. I believe in providing natural and aesthetically please learning environments that encourage engagement and learning.
Working with parents and families, keeping clear and open lines of communication assists us to be able to provide children with the highest quality early learning experiences and opportunities.
I am fortunate to work with a highly qualified and experienced team, whose passion for the sector and their roles therein is matched by a commitment to giving the children the highest quality learning experiences.
It would be my pleasure to welcome you to our centre, to show you around and explore the opportunities available to give your child the best start as a lifelong learner.

At Thurgoona, you and your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our centre offers a preschool program and long day care under the one roof. Our preschool teachers are University qualified and provide a play-based learning program that will support your child in learning the skills for school and life.

At Thurgoona, you and your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our centre offers a preschool program and long day care under the one roof. Our preschool teachers are University qualified and provide a play-based learning program that will support your child in learning the skills for school and life.

6:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday

6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday