Advocacy at C&K C&K advocates for children and families as we believe every child deserves the best start in life and access to high-quality early childhood education and care. What we advocate for Supporting our vision where every child flourishes. C&K utilises our expertise, knowledge and values to collaborate across the sector and is recognised as an influential leader in early childhood education and care. By partnering with government, value-aligned peak bodies, sector groups and unions, C&K can make meaningful contributions to policy and decisions that benefit children, families and the early childhood sector.We use our expertise to influence policy and advocate for the needs of children, families and our workforce through evidence-based practices and real-world experiences. We are proud to help shape a future where every child has access to affordable, inclusive, quality early childhood education and it is recognised and valued for its foundational role in lifelong learning and wellbeing.Our commitment to our people is unwavering - as we strive to provide great places to work and learn. How we make a difference C&K has a long history of advocating for children's needs. We share our knowledge, experience and expertise in shaping and responding to a range of policy development and government inquiries. In 2024, C&K was proud to share evidence and insights from our position as a leader in early childhood learning, that will shape the future of the sector. These included the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Universal ECEC, the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission Inquiry into Childcare, the National Early Years Strategy and Vision, the Cheaper Childcare Bill, and the Inclusion Support Program. C&K's Latest Submission C&K Submission to Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement on Growing Child Safe Organisations in Queensland C&K has a long history of and a strong commitment to upholding and strengthening child safety practices. Our employees are deeply committed to employing best practice approaches in education and the health, safety and wellbeing of the children enrolled in our centres. Read more Featured news View all Parents & Guardian, Wellbeing Bilingual pilot program supports equity and inclusion at C&K Mt Warren Park The 2024 pilot was a collaboration between the Creche and Kindergarten Association, the Department of Education and Mt Warren State School’s… Centre, Parents & Guardian Early Childhood Education and Care – for all families. From January 2026, parents of young children will have guaranteed access to three days of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) each week, following legislation passed by the… Wellbeing Mindful Teaching, Mindful Leading: Connecting with Self and Student Jane Newman is a powerhouse. Founder New Core Consulting; Educational Leader, Consultant, Trainer, Coach and Speaker… Parents & Guardian Empowering Inclusion: Nurturing Play and Communication for Autistic and Neurodivergent Children In recent years, the landscape of early childhood education has seen significant evolution, especially for children who are autistic or neurodivergent. This evolution has been driven by enhanced… Centre Continuous Improvement in Childcare for Children & Communities: An interview with Shantai Jackson C&K Thornlands Childcare Centre has been providing quality early childhood education and care for children in the community for a little over five years now. Pulling into the centre and… C&K Thornlands Childcare Centre Centre Celebrating Our Global Citizenship Journey: A Year of Transformation Last month, 11 graduates of the 2024 C&K Global Citizenship Community of Practice – Transformational Practices in Global Citizenship in early years education, came together to share stories of… Centre Active supervision in Early Childhood Education & Care to boost connection As early childhood educators, we often find ourselves juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities throughout the day. In the midst of this busyness, it’s easy to fall into autopilot, going… Media Release C&K set to deliver new year pay rise C&K is set to deliver a historic pay rise in the new year after a record 98% yes vote to approve a new enterprise agreement.C&K CEO Dr. Sandra Cheeseman said the approval marked a… Wellbeing How Intergenerational Programs Transform Community Connections A Thoughtful Approach to Intergenerational Learning… Media Release C&K appoints Grant Thornton as new external auditor C&K The Creche and Kindergarten Association Limited are pleased to announce the appointment of a new external auditor for the 2024 financial year,… Parents & Guardian, Wellbeing Resisting ‘The Busy Badge’ as a parent - 10 benefits of embracing the slow in the early years At childcare pick up, a friend asks, “How are you?”You reply, “So busy, really busy”, while simultaneously reading the email from school about the latest head lice outbreak, working out… Wellbeing How to keep cool with your child this summer In the first five years, children learn more quickly than at any other stage of their life. At C&K, we want your child to have every opportunity to learn through play - even during the warmer… Centre 2024 C&K Conference Highlights On Saturday 20th July, 570 members of the early childhood education sector joined us for the 2024 C&K Conference. Guided by the year’s theme – ‘Everyday Matters: For Every Child. For You. For… Centre C&K Parkhurst Childcare Centre in Rockhampton is now open! C&K Parkhurst Childcare Centre in Rockhampton opened its door to the community on Monday, 10 June 2024.After 18 months of dedication and hard work, we were thrilled to welcome our new… C&K Parkhurst Childcare Centre Parents & Guardian What to pack for childcare If you’re reading this, you are likely gearing up for your child’s first day of childcare. It’s normal for parents, caregivers and children to feel nervous about their first day, and as you start… Parents & Guardian Everything you need to know about Free Kindy About C&K's Kindergarten ProgramC&K's government-approved kindergarten program is led by university-qualified teachers for children in the year before they attend school. Children… Centre What is play-based learning? In early childhood education, one approach stands out for its unique ability to foster holistic development while keeping children engaged and enthusiastic about learning: play-based learning. At… Wellbeing Five Benefits of Swinging Swings are a childhood favourite, be it at the playground or at our C&K centres. At C&K, we encourage our children to swing, offering many opportunities for this beneficial type of play… Wellbeing How to make childcare and kindergarten drop-offs easier It can take time to adjust to a new routine, for both parents and children, whether it is the first day at kindergarten, at a childcare centre or moving to a new room. There are things that you… Parents & Guardian Five things to do before the first day of kindy Starting kindy is exciting, but it's normal for children (and their families) to feel nervous. To help make the transition to kindy a positive and calm experience, we have put together five things… Wellbeing C&K welcomes putting Queensland children first C&K commends Putting Queensland Kids First as a positive step forward to create a holistic early childhood development system and welcomes the Queensland Government’s announcement to…