Careers and employment
Close community, nature, and family life for educators in Tasmania
Kadie Cunningham, Assistant Director of Goodstart Kings Meadows, moved back for a better life.
We're your local early learning and long day care centre, where we support every child to grow and thrive in a safe and engaging environment.
Based across the road from Victoria Park State School and Queens Park, and just minutes from Mackay's CBD, our centre is in a convenient spot for busy families.
We combine a strong sense of community with high-quality early learning. Families value our dedicated educators, natural play spaces, and the warm, consistent relationships we build with children as they progress through their early years.
We invite you to tour our service and see the difference firsthand. Our dedicated team would love to meet you and discuss our tailored toddler and kindergarten programs.
Our centre caters for children from toddlers through to kindergarten, with four purpose-designed rooms.
We offer a child-led, play-based curriculum guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, tailored to each child's strengths, interests and needs.
A qualified early childhood teacher leads our approved kindergarten program, focusing on school readiness and social/emotional skills.
Families love the home-like feel created by our passionate team and the continuity of care provided by long-serving educators.
We also celebrate community and connection, with kindergarten children regularly engaging with local schools through events, classroom visits and prep-readiness activities.
We'd love to welcome you to our centre. Book a tour today to meet our team, explore our inviting spaces, and learn how we can support your child's early learning journey.
At Goodstart Mackay - Shakespeare Street, our philosophy centres around the belief that every child is a unique individual with their own interests and strengths. We embrace a play-based learning approach that nurtures curiosity and creativity, allowing children to explore their world in meaningful ways. 
We prioritise: 
Through our philosophy, we aim to create a safe, nurturing environment where children can thrive and become confident, capable learners. 
Children need to feel safe and supported to learn and grow, so we promote key educator relationships between our educators and children. Your child will have at least one educator (their key educator) who takes them under their wing and really gets to know them. 
Our Key Educator relationships help children form secure attachments. Educators work closely with smaller groups and individual children to better understand each child. These relationships lead to improved outcomes for children as we foster more communication between families and educators. 
We inform families regularly about their child's progress and welcome family involvement in our centre events and activities.  
At our Mackay - Shakespeare Street centre, we're proud to inspire your child's love of learning with the support of our passionate and qualified early childhood experts. Teachers with bachelor's degrees run our three and four-year-old kindergarten program, so children can be well on their way to excellent learning outcomes by the time they start school. 
At Goodstart, we believe all children deserve the best possible start in life, which includes access to high-quality early childhood education and care. We offer:  
We work closely with parents to ensure the individual needs, interests and strengths of children are considered, and our learning goals reflect them. Using Storypark, a wonderful communication platform, we stay in close touch with families and ensure you're well informed about your child's development and achievements. 
Click here to book your tour or call our Family Services team to find out more on 1800 222 543. 
I hold a Diploma in Early Education and Care and have worked in the childcare industry since 2004. I’ve worked here at Goodstart Shakespeare Street since 2019.Throughout my career I have gained experience working in many different positions before becoming the Centre Director.
We offer a safe, nurturing environment for all children in our care, working alongside families to ensure the best possible start for children. I believe that by creating strong bonds with families and children we can provide an environment for children to learn, grow and discover.
It is a privilege to be a part of such an important time in the children's development.
The team I am fortunate to work with shares my passion for seeing children meet their potential. They are dedicated, professional, experienced, and highly qualified.
I look forward to welcoming you and your family and discussing how we can support you and your child on the pathway to lifelong learning.
At Mackay Shakespeare Street, you and your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our centre offers a kindergarten program and long day care under the one roof. Our kindergarten 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 Mackay Shakespeare Street, you and your child can enjoy the best of both worlds. Our centre offers a kindergarten program and long day care under the one roof. Our kindergarten 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
6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday
6:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday