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What is community kindergarten?

Submitted by m.hall on

Kindergarten, also known as preschool or pre-prep, is a structured, play-based program led by a university qualified early childhood teacher for children in the year before they attend school.

The program which runs for 15 hours per week or 30 hours a fortnight, 40 weeks per calendar year, focuses on helping children to develop a wide range of essential skills and prepares them for their transition to school.

Community kindergartens are usually open for approximately six hours per day, for example 8:30am to 2:30pm, 5 days per fortnight (3 days one week and 2 days the following week) but can vary depending on the kindy.

A kindergarten group has up to 22 children, who are turning four years of age by the end of June.

Five things to do before the first day of kindy

26th July 2024
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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 that you can do before the first day of kindy to prepare your family for the adventure ahead

1 Talk about kindy

Talk regularly with your child in everyday conversation about the experiences they might engage in, the friends they will make, and the interesting things they will learn.

2 Practice mealtimes

Teach your child how to open and close their lunchbox and drink bottle, open packets of food, and identify rubbish vs recycling.

3 Encourage independence

Encourage your child to choose their own clothes and dress themselves, pack their bags, and instil a sense of responsibility for their belongings.



4 Play kindy at home

Make preparing for kindy fun! Pretend to be the teacher and run your child through activities similar to what they might experience at kindy. Arriving and putting their belongings away, discussion/group time, outdoor play, morning tea, indoor creative play, lunch, quiet time, and going home.



5 Visit kindy

Our kindies don’t open their doors until later in January, but you can include a drive or walk past your child’s kindy during your regular outings so that they become familiar with the route and what the kindy looks like. You can also book a tour of your kindy directly with the centre director.

Traineeships and Apprenticeships

Course Code:

Course Code: CHC30121

Qualification:

CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education or CHC50121 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

General information

General Information

Curriculum

Fees

Course Overview

Traineeships and Apprenticeships combine training with paid work. As a Trainee or Apprentice, you get paid to gain a nationally recognised qualification. You build valuable skills in the workplace under the guidance of a workplace supervisor, and you learn with a Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO).

To study with C&K College while you undertake a Traineeship or Apprenticeship you first need to find a workplace willing to employee you. Your employer will appoint an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider to help manage your training contract. When setting up the training contract you simply nominate C&K College of Early Childhood as the SRTO and we will send an enrolment package to you.

Download our full student guide here.

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Diploma of Early Childhood
Education and Care

Course Code:

CHC30121

Qualification:

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

General information

General Information

Curriculum

Fees

Course Overview

The Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care prepares individuals for leadership roles in early childhood services, emphasising advocacy for children's rights, strong relationships, effective workplace processes, and inclusive, respectful, and responsive cultures. 

This qualification offers career opportunities beyond direct child interaction, including leadership, management, and support roles. The course covers supporting children's health, learning, and development; designing, planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs; collaborating with families, communities, and external agencies; providing leadership and support to staff; and managing compliance with policies and legislation.

Download the Diploma fact sheet here.

Download the Student guide here.

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C&K welcomes putting Queensland children first

14th June 2024
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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 invest $500 million in initiatives to support children to flourish.


C&K CEO Dr. Sandra Cheeseman said, “We are heartened that the Miles Government has listened to the sector, families and communities by investing in programs that support children and families to thrive.”


“C&K deliver kindergarten and early childhood programs to 19,000 children across unique and diverse communities every year. We know that children do well when families are doing well, and families do well in supported and connected communities.”


“We are especially pleased that this strategy includes funding for Early Childhood Coordinators and to extend Free Kindy to 30 hours per week in discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”


“This investment will build further on the fantastic initiatives of Free Kindy, Kindy Uplift and the Early Childhood Education and Care Workforce Strategy.”


“C&K look forward to supporting the implementation of Putting Queensland Kids First.”

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

Course Code:

CHC301212

Qualification:

Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

General information

General Information

Curriculum

Fees

Course Overview

This qualification is the minimum requirement for early childhood settings in Australia. Childcare and Early Childhood Education facilities are experiencing a skills shortage, resulting in a high demand for qualified workers.

The course covers several essential areas, including the care and nurturing of babies, toddlers, and children, fostering individual development, promoting and facilitating healthy mealtimes, and understanding legal and industry requirements. Additionally, it includes planning, implementing, and evaluating educational programs, working alongside other educators and teachers, and collaborating with families and the community.

Download the fact sheet here. 

Download the student guide here.

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C&K Calamvale Community College Kindergarten

3 years - 5 years

C&K Calamvale Community College Kindergarten

Open Week Days
Day
2 Jun 2025
3:00pm - 4:30pm AEST
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At C&K Calamvale Community College Kindergarten, your child will feel safe, make friends, and belong. We embrace our multicultural community, celebrating and sharing diverse cultures. Our experienced and passionate educators (some having over 10 years of service) foster close relationships with families, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment.

C&K Calamvale has beautiful, large landscaped gardens providing an open natural learning environment where the children explore, investigate, and extend their learning. Our indoor space fosters child-led experiences and provides many different and inspiring opportunities to play and learn.

Parents and guardians are an integral part of our community and are always welcome to contribute to the educational program. Our young children are capable thinkers, investigators and inquirers. They come to kindergarten with a range of prior experiences and understanding of the world around them.

Our experienced and passionate educators foster close relationships with families, ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment. They focus on nurturing your child's curiosity, building their resilience and developing their confidence - all through the joy of learning through play.

At C&K Calamvale, we offer a 5 day fortnight kindergarten program with an optional extended hours program until 6:15pm and an optional holiday program during Queensland school holidays. These optional programs incur separate fees. We have 6 groups to choose from, so you can enrol your child in a group that best meets your family's needs.

Visit Kindergarten with Extended Hours for more information.

C&K Calamvale is located on the Calamvale Community College campus off Hamish Street in Calamvale.

Therese Mulherin

Submitted by orangedigital on

Board member since 30 May 2013

Committee Responsibilities
Audit, Risk and Finance

Qualifications
BOccThy, GAICD

Experience
Therese Mulherin has had an extensive career as a non-executive director, executive leader, and strategic advisor to executive teams and Boards. She has a clinical allied health background in Occupational Therapy and is experienced in the effective delivery of human services including early childhood education and care, health and injury rehabilitation, aged care, disability, and employment services. Therese’s experience spans large national service organisations, outsourced government contracts, strategy development, stakeholder management and change management.

Charles Strickland

Submitted by orangedigital on

Board member since 21 June 2019

Committee Responsibilities
Audit, Risk and Finance (Chair)

Qualifications
B. IntBus, B. Com, GAICD, FCA, CPA

Experience
Charles Strickland is a senior director at the Queensland Audit Office where he has responsibility for audit methodology, audit and accounting advice, the quality assurance program, and preparing the office to deliver assurance for climate-related financial disclosures. With broad experience across general government administration, and the health and local government sectors, he brings a commitment to improving the lives of Queenslanders through his financial and performance audit work. He has a strong background in audit, risk, and governance. Charles is a firm believer in quality education and giving young people every opportunity to succeed, in the past serving on his local school P&C as treasurer, and coaching junior hockey teams.

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C&K has over 320 kindergarten and childcare centres throughout Queensland, and as a not-for-profit, children come first in everything we do.
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