Brenbeal acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which our service stands. They were the first to teach and nurture children on this Land. We pay our respects to Wurundjeri Elders, past present and future, who pass their knowledge, histories and cultures to new generations.
Established in 1993, Brenbeal Children’s Centre provides a high-quality childcare and pre-school (kindergarten) service. The Centre is not-for-profit and managed by a parent committee. The building is owned and maintained by Maribyrnong City Council. The centre is staffed above the minimum required ratios and it is governed by the practices and principles of the National Quality Framework and the Early Years Learning Framework.
Our safe, secure learning environments are based on an indoor/outdoor program with specialist classes in music and physical education available. We have been endorsed by the Victorian Government’s Healthy Together program, including Sunsmart practices and provide a seasonal menu, cooked onsite with a focus on locally sourced ingredients.
Brenbeal’s approach to Early Childhood education is underpinned by the Early Years Learning Framework, the National Quality Standards, Code of Ethics and contemporary early childhood theorists. Our vision is to provide children with the opportunities for learning in all areas of development, to foster a love of learning and to achieve their full potential. Brenbeal strives to support children in the ways they connect with the natural environment to promote sustainable practices and broaden their understanding of the world and their place in it.
We understand that nurturing, trusting relationships are crucial to children’s development and we actively support children’s emerging and ongoing friendships both with educators and other children alike.
High quality learning is crafted with care by our educators to teach problem solving, reflective thinking and to explore diverse ways of becoming, being and belonging. We recognise the importance of the outdoor teacher and children’s own learning styles and stages of development, as we view children as active participants in their own education. Children’s learning is made visible through reflective journals, individual and group observations and twice yearly assessments.
Rich learning experiences are provided in areas of language and literature, visual arts, music and movement, dramatic and imaginative play, positive mental health, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. This is balanced with the children’s right to childhood and having the time to just ‘be’.
At Brenbeal the children, families and educators work in partnerships as a learning community. Unique family values and culture are respected to provide everyone with a sense of belonging. We support families in their parenting and thread the wider community together through connections with other local families, specialist services and transitioning to other schools.
To gain access to Brenbeal all children need to be registered with the Maribyrnong City Council central register. If you would like to visit the centre before entering your preferences to Council, please contact us on 03 9317 8244.
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Brenbeal is rated “Exceeding” in all seven quality areas of the National Quality Standard.
The early years are critical for establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn. Quality education and care shapes every child’s future and lays the foundation for development and learning.
Daily Fee of $135
This includes the provision of nutritional morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and supper cooked onsite by our centre cook. Full fees are required for all absences including sickness and personal holidays. No fees are charged during the centre closure period over the Christmas and New Year period or on Public Holidays.
We are a led by a committee of volunteer parents
The Committee of Management meets once a month and is responsible for ensuring the centre fulfills its financial and legal obligations whilst supporting the management team in delivering a happy and healthy environment for children and staff.
Being locally owned and run, and not-for-profit means that Brenbeal strives to meet the needs of our families and to support our staff. This is what we are known for and what we pride ourselves on.
Enrolment
Enrolment
All registrations for community based long day childcare, sessional and integrated kindergarten are managed through the City of Maribyrnong’s Central Registration System (CRS). You can register at any time after your child is born.
Register here
Specific enquiries can be directed to:
Central Registration Officer on 9688 0116 or earlyyearscentralregister@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
For further information please visit the Maribyrnong Council website:
www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/CRS
For all centre enquiries, tours and to discuss how Brenbeal may suit your family, please contact:
Krystyna Soprun, Centre Manager on (03) 9317 8244 or via email manager@brenbeal.org.au
Fees
Daily Fee
As community-focused non-for-profit centre, our fee positioning approach is to ensure we deliver the best and highest level of care whilst offering an industry-competitive daily fee.
The daily long day care and integrated kindergarten program fee is $135.00.
From 2023, sessional kindergarten is free. For children enrolled in the integrated kindergarten program, parents will receive a $2,050 subsidy that will offset the kindergarten program component of your out-of-pocket fees. For more information, please see here.
Both fee structures include the provision of nutritional morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and supper cooked onsite by our centre cook. Full fees are required for all absences including sickness and personal holidays. There are no fees during the centre closure over the Christmas and New Year period or on Public Holiday
As an approved childcare provider, eligible families can receive Child Care Subsidy and additional support to reduce your fees. For more information on the Child Care Subsidy please click here
Community Partnerships
We pride ourselves on being community minded and working closely with our local community to deliver a variety of initiatives that not only support our Brenbeal community but also our wider area.
We also we foster a strong sense of community within Brenbeal incorporating many special family and cultural events, sub-committees, opportunities for volunteering, working bees, connection (a dedicated family only Facebook group) and much more.
Hospital Libraries – Western Health Footscray Hospital + Footscray City College
We established a Free Community Libraries in the waiting areas at Footscray Hospital, our neighbours. Working closely with students from Footscray City College, we helped to establish and maintain two libraries.
Children enjoy walking next door to restock the library shelves with books donated by Brenbeal families. They also get to meet some doctors and learn about their work during the visits.
Community Veggie Garden – Bunnings West Footscary + Braybrook Men’s Shed + Footscray City College
We initiated a community veggie garden at our centre. Bunnings West Footscray supported us by providing the best quality timber while Braybrook Men’s Shed helped to build three planter boxes. When Footscray City College found out we had installed new veggie planter boxes, the school was keen to provide plants, and even visited to help the children put them in.