By Theresia Titus
MercyCare has opened two new early learning centres last year in Perth northern suburbs, making MercyCare the sixth largest childcare provider in WA and ensuring parents have access to quality childcare.
The two new early learning centres opened its doors to children who live in Merriwa in June and Banksia Grove in November 2019.
Speaking to The eRecord, MercyCare Early Learning Services Operations Manager Rosina Smith believes the centres are “an important part of a community”.
“We wanted to be integral in the fabric of these two new communities as they grow and thrive,” she said.
“Many of our centres build on services we already have in that community. In the case of Merriwa, it was a natural addition to connect further on top of the work we already do at the Merriwa Community Hub.”
Merriwa ELC is also equipped with a new before and after school care programme, as well as allowing families to book their children in for a six-hour or 10-hour day rather than paying for a full 12-hour day.
With a play-based approach applied on their learning programme based on the Early Years Learning Framework, Banksia Grove ELC is built to have one of MercyCare’s biggest ever nature-play playgrounds, intended “to foster children’s natural curiosity and encourage their imaginative play”.
“Overwhelming research shows the best way to learn is through play. Our passionate educators use play to develop communication, language, social and emotional skills,” Ms Smith added.
“Through our programmes, we support children with an understanding of themselves, their community and the world around them.
“This includes teaching them about the environment, being involved in nature, recognising the unique role of Australia’s First Peoples and celebrating multicultural Australia,” she continued.
Ms Smith emphasised that it was important to ensure that the centres paid attention to understand what matters to each individual family and child “to help bring out the qualities and strengths that make them individual, as every child is unique”.
MercyCare also offers intergenerational activities where children are able to visit residential aged care homes and a school readiness programme to ease the children’s transition into kindergarten.
Ms Smith said the intergenerational activities highlight “the importance for people to stay socially connected, no matter what age they are”, while the school readiness programme “gives children the opportunity to build their confidence and independence to take the next step in their learning journey”.
“Our aim is to ensure children are meeting the developmental milestones necessary to confidentially step into the classroom,” she stated.
“The programme is covered by the Child Care Subsidy, allowing parents to dramatically reduce out-of-pocket expense.”