Guided by a passion for children’s wellbeing, TAFE Kids Inc. is grounded in the values of respect, inclusion, and curiosity. We celebrate every child’s individuality, encourage kindness and empathy, and embrace diversity within our community. Partnership with families, honesty, and open communication are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring that each child feels safe, valued, and supported as they discover their world.
TAFE Kids Inc. Childcare and Kindergarten Centre is a small community not-for-profit child care service that is managed by the TAFE Kids Management Committee. The centre takes pride in providing a home-like feel for children, educators, families and other
stakeholders.
TAFE Kids provides early childhood education and care and 3 and 4-year-old kindergarten programs, with care available to children aged from 6 weeks to 5 years. Enrolments are open to the general community, SuniTAFE staff and students, catering for up to 69 children per day.
Within our Nursery classrooms, our babies are welcomed and embraced in a safe, nurturing environment where trust begins to grow. With gentle routines, responsive educators, and a nurturing team, we support each child in their own individual journey as they explore their senses, begin to communicate, and discover the world around them.
Our Education programs are thoughtfully designed to support early development through play, sensory exploration, and responsive interactions. We focus on building strong, secure relationships between children and familiar educators, recognising that consistency and connection are key to helping all children feel safe and confident.
We foster a deep sense of belonging by creating space where every child is known, valued and supported. Through warm, respectful care and meaningful engagement, we lay the foundation for curiosity, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.
As children become toddlers, our focus shifts to encourage independence and discovery. Through thoughtfully planned play-based learning experiences, toddlers begin to build their language, social skills, and both fine and gross motor abilities as they interact with the world around them. Our educators create a warm and predictable environment where toddlers feel safe, seen, and supported. Strong connections with familiar educators help children develop a sense of belonging, which is essential for confident exploration and learning.
We nurture each child’s growing autonomy by offering choices, encouraging self-help skills, and celebrating their unique interests and achievements. This stage is all about sparking imagination, strengthening relationships and supporting each child’s journey as a confident, capable learner.
Kindergarten: Ready to take the next step:
By the time, children reach Kinder, they’re eager for new challenges and deeper learning.
Our 3-and-4-year-old Kindergarten program fosters growth in literacy, numeracy, creativity, and emotional wellbeing through hands-on experiences and collaborative play. We support each child to become a curious thinker, a resilient learner, and a capable communicator, building a strong foundation for their transition to school and beyond.
With a clear focus on becoming school ready, we help children develop the skills, confidence and independence they need to thrive in a formal learning environment. From following routines and expressing ideas to working with peers and solving problems, our kinder programs prepare children for a successful start to their school journey.
WHY CHOOSE US:
Here at TAFE Kids, we offer a government funded Kindergarten program that follows all Victorian Educational Guidelines. The program is led by bachelor-qualified Early Childhood teachers, who are passionate about supporting each child’s growth and development.
Through a play-based curriculum, we provide open-ended opportunities for all children to learn and develop learning dispositions in a caring and inclusive environment. This program lays a strong foundation for school and life-long learning.
Street Kindergarten:
Here at TAFE Kids Inc, we believe in immersing the children in a curriculum outside the typical four walls of a classroom. With this in mind, as part of our Kindergarten program, we plan excursions to local community sites such as Shippys, Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS), Woolworths, Woodsies Gem Shop and the Mildura Library. During these excursions, children are exposed to local communities and have the opportunity to learn the following skills:
• Help children feel safe, valued, and connected.
• Supports social skills like sharing, empathy, and cooperation.
• Enriches learning with diverse experiences and real-world links.
• Encourages family involvement and strong home-kinder connections.
• Connects families to helpful local services and resources.
• Builds a positive, inclusive environment where every child can grow.
Bush Kindergarten:
Our Bush Kinder Curriculum takes place in our local bushland and provides the children with the following benefits:
• Increased Gross Motor Development as children climb, balance, run and jump on uneven natural terrain.
• Encouragement of curiosity and exploration.
• Increased creativity and flexible thinking.
• Exposure to early concepts in STEM through real-world experiences with nature.
• Opportunities to practise descriptive language as children talk about what they see, hear, and feel.
• Building resilience and confidence as children face and overcome small, manageable risks.
• Development of a deep respect for the natural world.
• Reduction of stress and anxiety by offering calm, sensory-rich environments which in turn provide children with the opportunity to learn mindfulness.
• Through guidance, children can begin to recognise safe boundaries and make thoughtful choices.
Every step at TAFE Kids Inc. is a new adventure, helping your child become eager, resilient, and ready for school and life beyond.
Our educational programs are play-based and carefully aligned with the National Quality Framework, ensuring every child receives the highest standard of early learning. Led by a dedicated and highly qualified educational team, we focus on nurturing each child's individual strengths, fostering a sense of belonging and confidence.
For more information on enrolment please contact the friendly Centre management team: Amie, Jess or Temeka on 03 5022 3791.
Opening hours
Monday to Friday; 7:30am – 6:00pm (excluding Public Holidays). The service is closed for two weeks over the Christmas and New Years period.
Bookings must be made in advance as vacancies may be limited. For more information or to speak to us about enrolling your child, please call us on 03 5022 3791 or check out our Facebook page.