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About KingKids
EARLY LEARNING CENTRE
KingKids
A passion to nurture, encourage and support children, their early learning and development is what drives everyone at our KingKids childcare centres.
At our centres we offer long day care, or childcare, and kindergarten for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years in the southeast suburbs of Melbourne. Our programs are designed to educate and entertain children throughout their early years and encourage development.
We’re open Monday to Friday from 6.30am to 6.30pm 52 weeks a year, closing only on Public Holidays. The only exception is our Bentleigh Early Learning Centre which is open from 7.00am to 6.30pm.
A Nurturing Environment for Young Learners
Our centers offer a warm and welcoming environment where children can learn, grow, and explore. Inspired by the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF), our curriculum is designed to foster lifelong learning. Our spacious outdoor play areas, complete with natural elements and age-appropriate equipment, encourage creativity and connection with the environment. To ensure your child’s well-being, we provide nutritious, freshly prepared meals and snacks cooked on-site at each of our centers.
Our Commitment to Inclusion & Diversity
KingKids acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the first people of the nation and the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and play. We are committed to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and families and recognise their continuing connection to Culture, Land, Water and Community and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.
KingKids celebrates and welcomes people from all cultures, religions, spiritualities, ages, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities & backgrounds and will ensure that all children and families will be supported to express their culture and enjoy their cultural rights.
Our Story
The KingKids story centres around family. Jo MacKenzie-King always wanted a big family. After having four children with husband Andy, instead of expanding their immediate family, Jo and Andy thought bigger and created the KingKids family.
To do this Jo went back to study and completed her Diploma of Children’s Services, and in October 2012 they purchased their first Centre in Berwick, aiming to offer childcare and kindergarten services to local families. They transformed this Centre from one where quality was lacking to the first centre in the City of Casey to be awarded as Exceeding the National Quality Standards.
KingKids has experienced rapid growth since its inception in 2012. Recognising the high demand for quality childcare in the area, the company expanded its operations to Narre Warren in 2015, quickly establishing itself as a preferred choice for local families.
In 2017, KingKids opened a state-of-the-art center in Rowville, further raising the bar for early childhood education. Unfortunately, this expansion coincided with the loss of co-founder Andy King. Despite this personal setback, the KingKids team continued to thrive, driven by their commitment to providing exceptional care.
The company’s growth trajectory has continued unabated. In 2020, KingKids opened its fourth center in Hallam, followed by a fifth in Bentleigh in 2023. This expansion is a testament to the high quality of care offered by KingKids and the increasing demand for their services.
Providing quality childcare service that “excites children and delights families” was Andy’s mantra, so to honour his memory, the KingKids team continue to strive to be the best they can be and make a positive difference in the lives of people within our communities. our communities.
Our Team
Our team of trained and experienced early childhood professionals are dedicated to caring for and supporting your child to thrive and develop personally and socially. We provide plenty of activities, education, and care for your child based on their interests and learning goals, keeping them entertained and stimulated. It’s not just childcare, it’s fun care!
Jo MacKenzie-King
Executive Director
jo@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi, I’m Jo. As well as being a Mum of 4 beautiful children, I hold a Bachelor of Business Studies (Human Resources) and an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services, giving me the skills needed to govern and genuinely understand all aspects of running Childcare Centres. On my weekends you’ll find me at the gym or out to brunch with friends. My favourite AFL team is Hawthorn and I have three gorgeous dogs, named Mac, Harry and Remy.
Gerard Bolger
General Manager
gerard@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi I’m Gerard. As an authentic people leader with over 20 years’ experience delivering operational outcomes, I think of myself as always accountable, curious, yet kind. I love people and data, or data and people. I think both. I have been fortunate to work with some extremely talented people across a range of sectors. From banking, logistics, community recreation, AOD, dental, mental health and suicide prevention and now early learning. Of course, none of this could happen without the enduring and most valued love and support from my darling wife spanning centuries now. I also have two adult children and on my weekends you’ll either find me out for a run or spending time in my garden
Joanne Smiles
Finance Assistant
accounts@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi, I’m Joanne. I have over 14 years’ experience working in finance and payroll roles. I have worked extensively in administration, particularly in HR. I joined KingKids in July 2020, and enjoy working with all our centres. My favourite soccer team is Leeds United and I have two amazing boys named Tom and Max. A fun fact about me is that I love to do pottery, and I’d love to go travelling around Europe.
Carey Jacob
Finance Manager
carey@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi, I’m Carey. I’m a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years’ experience, I have worked in both SME and multinationals. I possess a broad range of both technical and commercial accounting skills and have been responsible for numerous process and efficiency improvements. My favourite AFL team is Richmond and I have two cats named Willow and Alfie. On my weekends, I enjoy cycling with my wife Sara and I love 80’s rock.
Christopher Bradshaw
Director of Education & Development
chris@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi, I’m Christopher. I have an extensive background in education across a range of fields. I am a lifelong learner who values education, training, and growth. It only made sense that a love of learning led me to step into the role of Director of Education and Development, wanting to make a difference by making it different. I share my love of learning with the team and aim to inspire those around me to engage in meaningful development and engaging in ongoing learning. My favourite soccer team is Melbourne Victory and I have a beautiful dog named Nahla. My secret talent is that I have an almost 100% success rate of guessing the colour of Clinkers.
Jordan Stanway
Operations Manager
jordan@kingkids.com.au
More About Me
Hi, I’m Jordan. I have worked within the ECEC sector for a long time now and I am passionate about learning, leading and making a positive difference to the lives of the people around me. I come from a large blended foster family who taught me valuable life lessons and are the reason I have strong values and morals today. My AFL team is Collingwood and my dream holiday would be in New Zealand. During my spare time, I like to spend time with my beautiful fur children Otis and Pepper, visit my family and stay grounded by connecting with nature and country.
Fundraising
At KingKids we know how important it is to support our families, team members, community, and children. Each year we collaborate with our KingKids community to fundraise for organisations that support people close to our heart.
KingKids have partnered with the Pettet foundation for this very reason. The Pettet Foundation provides quick assistance to families or children in need or in a crisis situation. This involves support in the form of immediate monetary funds, vouchers, equipment or alike to support a family in crisis.
https://pettet.org.au/
VACCA (Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency)
VACCA supports culturally strong, safe and thriving Aboriginal communities.
VACCA believe in Aboriginal peoples’ right to self-determination, the rights of the child and we commit to upholding Victorian Aboriginal cultural protocols.
VACCA delivers more than 50 programs across Victoria that help to support culturally strong, thriving & safe Aboriginal communities. These thriving communities mean strong Aboriginal Children.
VACCA’s services support Aboriginal children and adults in Victoria and can be accessed by non-Aboriginal people who have an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander family member, such as children or a partner.
All monitory donations collected in 2022 by the KingKids community will be donated to VACCA to help them support children and families.
Backpacks 4 Vic Kids
Did you know that 45,000 Australian children are in an out of home care placement such as foster care? There are around 4000 new placements each year in Victoria alone.
Often children are placed quickly into foster care, kinship care or emergency accommodation without much more than what they are wearing at the time. Backpacks 4 Vic Kids provide them with a few essential items to ease feelings of loss and to help with their relocation.
KingKids Story – The artwork
This piece of artwork encapsulates the story of KingKids in the most beautiful and authentic way, representing our wonderful community, shared values and ongoing journey of learning and fun.
The story begins in the sky which reflects all that is present on earth, mind and spirit. Our founder, Jo, is illustrated as the emu while her late husband, Andy, is depicted as the eternal moon, always watching over the KingKids family. Their four children are represented in the Southern Cross and the journey lines, including the ones around the emu; these are the years of the KingKids voyage so far.
Beneath the sky we travel together on a journey, represented within the totems; along the way we learn the strength and skills for all people no matter their age or ability. Our overarching philosophy is depicted in the other circles, these represent safety, learning and resilience. The line work encompasses the celebration and importance of exploration and fun. The path travelled reflects the growth and development of the children at KingKids and our KingKids team. For each service it means working together to share knowledge and build career opportunities, fostering a culture of growth and development. For the children in our care, it represents the path of learning, relationships and independence. At KingKids children discover who they are as they grow to become active citizen within our community and the world.
Flowing through the path of learning is a deep connection to water, which is central to life, a place of creation and connection with culture, ancestors and each other. The water connects to our services below which are surrounded by ochre that represents the foundation of culture.
About the artist – Michelle Stanway
Michelle Stanway, an Awabakal-Trawlwoolway & Palawa woman, is deeply woven into the fabric of the KingKids community, where several of her children and grandchildren have thrived as students and staff. Residing primarily on the lands of the Kulin Nation, Michelle draws inspiration from her roots and connections to the Boon Wurrung Yalluk and Dja Dja Wurrung lands, where she has primarily resided over the last 50 years.
As a mother of seven and a dedicated Nanny to seven, her artistic practice reflects her rich life experiences. Michelle’s intuitive and contemporary paintings tell stories of connection through vibrant colours and narratives, often incorporating traditional elements learned from Elders.
In her exploration of digital art, she embraces new techniques without AI, creating works that celebrate her ancestry through digital mediums, mixed media painting and weaving, all while fostering meaningful narratives through Yarning.