About us
Oakhill Family Centre is a welcoming family hub offering high-quality childcare and early education for children from birth to five years, with Maternal and Child Health nurses on-site for added family support.
Our nurturing and experienced educators partner with families to create play-based learning programs that build on each child’s interests and abilities, helping them develop essential social, emotional, physical, language, and cognitive skills.
Rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard, Oakhill Family Centre provides a safe, secure, and happy environment where your child can thrive. Information about the National Quality Standard.
Enrolments for childcare and kindergarten are managed through Darebin City Council. Give us a call if you have any questions about enrolling.
Our service is rated Exceeding
In Victoria, all early childhood education and care services are assessed and rated by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) against the National Quality Standard (NQS). A service rated as ‘Exceeding NQS’ goes beyond the expected standards in at least four of the seven quality areas. It reflects consistent, high-quality practice, strong leadership, and a deep commitment to continuous improvement and meaningful engagement with children and families.
Oakhill Family Centre
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Centre Philosophy
Oakhill Family Centre acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land we live, play, and work on. Oakhill Family Centre strives to promote a greater understanding of First Australian ways of being and knowing through acknowledgement.
For over thirty years, Oakhill has been providing high-quality early childhood education in our local community. Since 2018, ECMS has continued to offer a unique blend of sessional and integrated kindergarten, early learning and care, all within our vibrant Community Hub. This includes the active involvement of the Parent Activity Group and the convenience of an onsite Maternal Child Health Nurse, ensuring families receive comprehensive support.
Trusting and respectful relations are the centre of all we do. Every child is born belonging to a family and a culture and deserves respect for who they are.Our play-based program provides opportunities for children to learn as they discover, create, improvise, negotiate, and imagine. When children play with other children, they build relationships, test out ideas, challenge each other’s thinking, and develop new understandings.
Our program is informed by educator observation and information shared by families about children’s emerging skills, interests, and knowledge, as well as their social relationships and interactions.
Learn more about the pre-prep program rollout
Your child may be eligible for more hours in 2026
Meet your Nominated Supervisor
Centre Highlights
Inspiring play spaces
Qualified and nurturing teaching teams
Learning through play
Child safe environments
Regular communication
Community visits and exploring
Our families say
Frequently asked questions
Your child will need a backpack or bag, a refillable water bottle, a change of clothes, a wide-brim sun hat and their favourite toy, which can help them settle in. For kindergarten your child will need morning tea and lunch (dependent on the length of the program day).
Children love community visits. Experiencing different environments and groups of people helps them learn. You’ll get plenty of information in advance and have opportunities to ask questions. The centre will also need your written permission before your child can take part.
Germs spread quickly, and home is the best place when we’re unwell. Please keep your child home for at least 24 hours if they show any of these symptoms.
• 38C and higher temperature
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Rashes that can’t be explained
• Red, swollen and discharging eyes
• Unusually lethargic, irritable or not eating and drinking
When your child is feeling better with no symptoms for 24 hours, they’re welcome to return.
Infectious diseases
If your child has an infectious disease, please keep them at home and let us know straight away. Whatever you tell us is confidential.
See the list of infectious diseases at www.health.vic.gov.au/infectious-diseases/school-exclusion-table
If your child becomes unwell while at the centre, teachers will make them comfortable and ask you to pick them up. If you’re not available, they’ll call one of the other contacts listed on your enrolment form.
Whether it’s a one-off issue or requires ongoing care, talk to your teachers if your child is on regular medication or has food allergies or intolerances. The team is there to support your family, and the more you can tell them, the better they can help. They will ask you for information from your doctor about how much your child takes and how often. Also, let the team know when anything changes. They will set up a new plan to support you, including any necessary training.
ECMS is a Child Safe organisation. We rigorously follow the child-safe standards set out by the Victorian Government. These standards guide us to drive a child safe culture, provide appropriate strategies and actions to put the interests of children first, keeping them safe from harm. We are committed to involving families and communities in our efforts to keep children safe.
Engaging in risky play is vital for children’s learning and development. Our teaching teams plan for and support opportunities for children to explore their environment and challenge themselves within play. Navigating risk promotes problem solving, persistence and resilience, and in a safe environment, is lots of fun!
Explore a day in the life
Immerse yourself into what a day at our service could look like for you and your family.
Questions about enrolling?
Get in touch and one of our team will help you.
ECMS acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands on which we live, learn, work and play. Aboriginal people have a long tradition of teaching and learning through sharing their connections with country, community, language and culture. We recognise their continuing connection to the country, and we pay respects to elders past and present.