Quality early childhood education and care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years.
Learning through play in the year before school.
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Find out more about professional development and training opportunities at C&K.
View our vacant positions to find a better way with C&K.
Discover the career opportunities and pathways available at C&K.
View details of our Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care qualification.
Learn more about C&K's Diploma qualification in Early Childhood Education and Care
Strengthen your leadership capability with C&K's Micro-credentials Program
Contact us for more information about the C&K College of Early Childhood
Early childhood curriculum for children from birth to 5.
At C&K, children’s safety and wellbeing are at the heart of everything we do.
Experienced and passionate leaders supporting C&K's workforce.
Committed to working towards reconciliation in the early years.
How we support our vision where every child flourishes.
Connecting and learning together in early education.
The latest sector news, inspiration, insights and tips for families and professionals.
Discover C&K's key publications, including annual reports and strategic plans.
Providing high standards of early childhood education and care together.
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Harmony Week is dedicated to celebrating cultural diversity, respect, and belonging. Harmony Week provides a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about different cultures, traditions, and communities in a fun and engaging way.
Across our centres, we celebrate Harmony Week by sharing stories from around the world, exploring music and food from different cultures, and encouraging children to talk about their family backgrounds. These activities help children understand that everyone is unique and that our differences make our communities stronger.
At C&K, we believe every child and family should feel welcome, valued, and supported regardless of their cultural background, language, or traditions. Everyone belongs at C&K.
By celebrating diversity in our early learning environments, we help children build empathy, curiosity, and a sense of connection with others from a young age.
Harmony Week reinforces our commitment to creating safe, inclusive spaces where every child can feel proud of who they are.
Throughout the years, our centres have embraced Harmony Week in many meaningful ways. Children have participated in multicultural dress-up, created artwork inspired by different countries, and enjoyed storytelling sessions featuring books from diverse cultures.
These experiences not only make Harmony Week fun and memorable but also support children’s understanding of diversity, respect, and inclusion — values that will stay with them for life.
To continue the discussion of respect, kindness, and inclusion with your children at home, check out these simple art activities provided by the Australian Government > https://gov.pulse.ly/ltnffheoxx
Early childhood leaders from across Queensland have begun C&K's Leadership and Management Program (LAMP), a sector-leading initiative which aims to strengthen the leadership skills of childcare and Kindergarten directors.
Funded by the Queensland Government and developed in collaboration with leading early childhood consultant, Catharine Hydon, LAMP responds to a long-recognised gap in leadership and management development within the early childhood sector.
C&K CEO, Dr Sandra Cheeseman, says the program is an important investment in the future of our sector.
“Our early childhood leaders are doing extraordinary work in increasingly complex environments,” Dr Cheeseman said.
“LAMP recognises the vital role of our centre leaders and will equip them with the skills and confidence they need to manage complex services and navigate ongoing reform and regulation.”
“By investing in our leaders, we are investing in an early childhood sector that is stronger, more valued and more sustainable.”
Queensland Department of Education’s Deputy Director-General for Early Childhood, Regulation and Communication, Tania Porter, attended the launch of C&K’s LAMP and welcomed C&K’s commitment to building leadership capability across the sector.
“Strong leadership underpins the strength of our workforce, which delivers positive outcomes for children and families,” Ms Porter said.
“Through the Queensland Government’s investment in leadership and capability, C&K is one of the funded providers playing a key role in strengthening and sustaining our early childhood workforce.”
“LAMP reflects a shared commitment to supporting early childhood leaders and continuing to build a sustainable, high-quality early childhood system.”
LAMP will be delivered over 18 months across three cohorts, with participants taking part in a six-month program focused on five dimensions of leadership, which are aligned to the National Quality Standard and the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
A central feature of LAMP is a practitioner-led cycle of inquiry, with participants able to research and reflect on real challenges, with direct links to Quality Improvement Plan priorities.
C&K’s Head of Operational Excellence, Dr Mia Christensen, said the program was informed through extensive engagement with early childhood leaders and designed to support lasting change.
“LAMP has been developed following extensive consultation with our early childhood leaders,” Dr Christensen said.
“This ensures it meets their needs in this evolving environment and supports them to build practical, evidence-informed leadership approaches that can be embedded into daily practice and sustained over time."
Every early childhood service is made up of families with different cultures, languages and identities. These differences are important and should be seen, heard and celebrated. Choosing the right early learning place for your child is an important decision.
At C&K kindergartens and childcare centres, we want every child and family to feel welcome, respected, and valued. No matter what language you speak at home — English, Mandarin, Korean, Samoan, Spanish or any other language — your culture, traditions, and values matter. They are an important part of who your child is, and we respect this every day.
Speaking more than one language is a strength. At C&K, we encourage families to keep using their home language at home. We also create opportunities for children to hear and connect with their home language at our centres. We have many Culturally and Linguistically Diverse staff, and some may even speak the same language as you and your child. At the same time, we support children to learn and develop English through play and everyday experiences.
Keeping home languages and cultural connections strong helps children feel confident and proud of who they are. Research shows that supporting a child’s first language helps their learning, identity and future language development.
We understand that choosing childcare can feel difficult, especially if the education system is different from your home country. Our centres aim to be culturally safe places where all families feel they belong. We want your child to learn and grow in an environment that supports their wellbeing and celebrates who they are.
Read our Parents Guide to Finding the Ideal Early Learning Centre to learn more about the different early childhood services that C&K offers.
Your family’s culture is valued here
When you choose C&K, you become part of a community where your voice matters. We see parents and families as children’s first teachers. We value your knowledge, experiences, and ideas.
Families are invited to be involved in decisions about their child’s care and learning. Our educators create learning spaces and daily experiences that reflect and celebrate each family’s culture, traditions, and values. We want children to see themselves, their families, and their stories in meaningful ways.
At C&K, we listen, learn and work alongside families so every child and every family feels truly welcome.
How C&K can support your family
Our teams can help with enrolment forms and communication with family members. We can also work with interpreters, translators, or bicultural support workers, especially during your first days at the centre.
Benefits of learning through play at C&K
Children benefit from:
Starting kindy at the beginning of Term 1 helps children settle and learn. With Free Kindy, eligible children can receive 15 hours per week at no cost. Places are limited, so find your local C&K and enrol early.
Families are welcome to visit, call, or speak with a centre team member directly to ask questions and learn more. We’re here to help, every step of the way.
Join us as we celebrate an exciting milestone — 36 wonderful years of C&K Mount Gravatt West Childcare Centre and the Grand Opening of our brand-new playground! We warmly invite our families, friends, and community members to come along, explore our centre, and celebrate with us. This special celebration is an opportunity to reflect on our journey, connect with our community, and showcase our beautiful learning environment. Bring your family along for a fun-filled day of entertainment, connection, and celebration. We would love to celebrate this special milestone with you and your family. Everyone is welcome!
💚 Together, celebrating 36 years of nurturing young minds and building strong community connections.
We look forward to welcoming you! 💛
Packing a lunchbox for your little one as they start kindergarten can feel like a puzzle - balancing nutrition, appeal, and what will actually get eaten! You want meals that fuel their busy days of learning and play, but also bring a smile to their face when they open their lunchbox. The good news? You don't have to reinvent the wheel. Our experienced team of C&K Team of Chefs have been creating delicious, nutritious meals that children genuinely enjoy for years, and they understand exactly what works in a busy kindy environment.
Through our C&K Lunchbox Bites series, we've gathered some of our chefs' most popular and practical recipes into one place to help make your lunchbox planning easier. These tried-and-tested recipes have won over even the pickiest eaters in our centres. Whether you're looking for allergen-free options, freezer-friendly ideas, or creative ways to sneak in extra nutrients, you'll find inspiration to keep those lunchboxes exciting all term long.
Check out our collection of C&K Lunchbox Bites recipes here.
Starting kindergarten is a significant milestone for both children and their parents, and we understand that it can be nerve-wracking to navigate how to prepare and what to pack in your child’s bag.
Here’s our simple kindergarten packing checklist, along with practical tips to help you and your child feel ready for their first day.
Kindergarten packing essentials
If you are starting kindergarten with C&K, you’ll receive a free wide-brimmed hat and t-shirt as part of your enrolment, which you are welcome to wear on the days you attend your centre.
Do I need to label items for kindy?
Yes, all items should be labelled with your child's name so educators can easily determine ownership. It also helps your child to learn about their name and their belongings.
Some options for labelling items include:
Labels with fun designs are a great way to help young children recognise their belongings even before they can read their name.
Medications must be labelled with a pharmacy label, including the child’s name and directions for use. This also applies to non-prescription items such as sunscreen and insect repellent.
Helping your child prepare for their first day
In the lead-up to kindy, it can help to print a photo of what will be in your child’s bag each day and stick it where they can see it. You can also chat about what will be in their bag, and practice packing it. Our kindy friends love helping to pack their bags and ensuring they have everything they need for a fun-filled day.
Where do I put items for kindergarten when I arrive?
When you arrive at the centre, your teaching team will show you:
Assist your child with storing their belongings. Knowing where they can find their things will help your child to feel confident and independent.
If you are ever unsure about what to pack or what your centre provides, don’t hesitate to reach out to your teaching team. They’re here to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your family.
Looking for more tips to help prepare for the start of your child’s kindy journey? Check out our “Building confidence for starting kindy: A guide for parents” blog post.
Memorial Park Community Kindergarten
Welcome to Memorial Park Community Kindergarten. A place where play takes centre stage in your child’s education and where children are given time to explore, discover and learn! At Memorial Park kindy we provide a fun, stimulating and natural environment that will foster learning through real life experiences. We strive to provide a program that is play based but also incorporates intentional teaching, focusing on the needs and interests of the child and accepting and embracing that each child is a unique individual with his/her own pattern of development, temperament and potential for learning.
We are committed to ensuring that our program reflects and meets the needs and interests of the Maroochydore community based on the principles of social inclusion, participation and equity, and we celebrate the diversity within our community. We acknowledge the importance of the Gubbi Gubbi community in the life of our kindergarten.
As an affiliated centre of C&K, Memorial Park Community Kindergarten receives support from C&K as the Central Governing Body but operates as an independent incorporated association managed by a volunteer management committee. Centres affiliated with C&K receive comprehensive support in governance, including managing kindergarten and inclusion funding, training for committees and educators, advice and support regarding inclusion, use of the C&K brand, curriculum approach and resource materials.
C&K’s Principal Advisor of Inclusion, Claire Allsop, has been named Leader of the Year at the 2025 Reimagine Australia National Awards, recognising her exceptional leadership in embedding inclusion as a defining feature of quality early childhood education and care.
The national award celebrates leaders who drive systemic change through collaboration, vision, and a deep commitment to children and families.
Since joining C&K 18 months ago, Claire has built on the organisation’s strong foundation of inclusive practice, helping to further embed inclusion as a culture grounded in equity, dignity, and belonging. Her work has strengthened C&K’s approach so that every child, regardless of diagnosis, ability, or background, can participate fully in rich learning environments.
“My focus is ensuring that inclusion is a foundational practice, not something that we bolt-on,” Claire said.
“It is about truly knowing a child as a child first and foremost, understanding what they love, what brings them joy, and what goals they and their families have, to build an incredible future and a smooth transition into their next step.”
Claire has worked on important projects which have assisted C&K in redeveloping the Education Support Plan, placing strengths-based language and evidence-informed approaches at the centre of practice. She has also implemented specialised equipment funding to remove physical barriers for children with disabilities and established the Inclusion Book Club, a professional learning initiative fostering reflection, confidence and practical capability among educators.
C&K Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sandra Cheeseman, said the recognition reflects both Claire’s leadership and C&K’s longstanding commitment to inclusive, high-quality early childhood education.
Dr Cheeseman elaborated, “Claire’s ability to guide educators towards deeply inclusive practice has strengthened outcomes for children, families and communities across Queensland.”
Looking ahead, Claire will continue to work on projects focused on embedding inclusive principles across curriculum, pedagogy and professional learning.
Claire added, “This focus of inclusion being foundational in every program and practice is something that C&K and I are deeply dedicated to further, our projects moving into 2026 are exciting.”
C&K congratulates Claire on this well-deserved national recognition, which highlights the vital role of inclusion in shaping positive and equitable futures for all children.
For all media inquiries, please contact media@candk.asn.au
The first day of kindy is finally here, an exciting milestone filled with new faces, discoveries, and adventures! We’re here to let you know it’s natural to feel a mix of excitement and nerves, and it’s normal for there to be some ups and downs during the first few weeks.
It's completely normal for children to experience a range of emotions during their first week. Here's what you might see:
Day one excitement: Many children are happy and curious on the first day, eager to explore their new environment.
The reality check: By day two or three, some children realise this is their new routine and may become tearful or resistant. This is normal and temporary.
Different timelines: Some children settle immediately, while others need several weeks. Both experiences are perfectly normal, and your child's teachers understand this completely.
Ups and downs: Your child might have a great morning and a difficult afternoon, or vice versa. Emotions can fluctuate as they adjust.
Maintain routines: Consistent wake-up times, meals, and bedtimes help children feel secure during periods of change.
Ask open-ended questions: Instead of "Did you have fun?" try "What did you play with today?" or "Who did you sit with at lunch?" This encourages more detailed sharing.
Listen without pressure: If your child doesn't want to talk about kindy immediately, that's okay. Some children need processing time before they're ready to share.
Acknowledge feelings: If your child expresses worry or sadness, validate their emotions: "It's okay to feel nervous about new things. That shows you're brave for trying."
Celebrate small wins: "You made a new friend!" or “You were brave when you waved me goodbye today!”. These acknowledgements build confidence.
Stay consistent: Even if mornings are difficult, maintaining the routine shows your child that kindy is a safe, normal part of their life.
Your child's educators are your partners in this journey.
Share important information: Let teachers know about your child's interests, fears, dietary needs, or anything that might help them provide better support.
Ask questions: Teachers welcome your questions about how your child is settling in, what they're learning, and how you can support them at home.
Trust their expertise: Teachers have guided countless children through this transition and understand that every child settles at their own pace.
Communicate concerns: If you're worried about something, speak up. Early communication helps address issues before they become bigger problems.
Be patient with yourself: This is a transition for you too, and it's okay to have your own feelings about it.
Behind the scenes, your child's teachers are:
"My child cries at drop-off": This is very common and usually resolves within minutes after you leave. Teachers will update you if tears persist.
"My child is exhausted": Kindy is physically and emotionally demanding. Ensure early bedtimes and quiet downtime after pick-up.
"My child won't talk about their day": Some children need time to decompress. Try asking specific questions later, or let them share when they're ready.
"My child says they don't want to go back": This is normal during the adjustment period. Stay positive, maintain the routine, and work with teachers to understand what's happening.
While most children settle within a few weeks, please reach out to your child’s teacher if you have any concerns.
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