Contact us

YWCA Canberra Central Office 

Street address: Level 2, 71 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City ACT 2601
Postal address: GPO Box 767, Canberra ACT 2601
Phone: 02 6185 2040
Email: canberra@ywca-canberra.org.au

Campbell Cottage

Street address: 8 Savige Street Campbell ACT 2612
Phone: 02 6185 2084
Email: campbell.cottage@ywca-canberra.org.au

Conder Early Childhood Service

Street address: 55 Beaumaris Street, Conder, ACT 2906
Phone: 02 6185 2086 or 0448 385 614
Email: conder@ywca-canberra.org.au

Currawong Child Care Centre

Street address: 41 Sydney Avenue, Barton
Phone: 02 6273 5911
Email: currawong@ywca-canberra.org.au

Fairley Early Childhood Service

Street address: 47 Rose Street, Murrumbateman
Phone: 02 6185 2060, 02 6185 2080 or 0439 339 500
Email: fairley@ywca-canberra.org.au

Spence Children’s Cottage

Street address: 19 Dalgleish Close, Spence
Phone: 02 6258 2077
Email: spence.cottage@ywca-canberra.org.au

Winyu Early Childhood Service

Street address: 125 Gungahlin Place, Gungahlin
Phone: 02 6185 2087 or  0423 114 154
Email: winyu@ywca-canberra.org.au

Reid Early Childhood Service

Street address: 27 Amaroo St, Reid
Phone: 02 6230 5660
Email: reid@ywca-canberra.org.au

SPK Early Learning Service

Street address: 24 Macpherson St O’Connor
Phone: 02 6248 9868
Email: spk@ywca-canberra.org.au

Aranda School Age Care 

Street address: Banambila Street, Aranda ACT 2614
Phone: 0448 924 615
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Charles Conder School Age Care 

Street address: 134 Tom Roberts Avenue, Conder ACT 2906
Phone: 0451 681 247
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Gilmore School Age Care 

Street address: Heagney Crescent, Gilmore ACT 2905
Phone: 0406 379 513
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Hawker School Age Care 

Street address: Hawker Primary School, Erldunda Street, Hawker ACT 2614
Phone: 0420 532 506
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Kingsford Smith School Age Care 

Street address: Starke Street, Holt ACT 2615
Phone: 0420 532 483
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Lyneham School Age Care 

Street address: Brigalow Street, Lyneham ACT 2602
Phone: 0428 075 899 or 0406 375 154
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Macquarie School Age Care 

Street address: 46 Bennelong Crescent, Macquarie ACT 2614
Phone: 0437 527 054
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Majura School Age Care 

Street address: 101 Knox Street, Watson ACT 2602
Phone: 0447 474 912
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

O’Connor School Age Care 

Street address: Macpherson Street, O’Connor ACT 2602
Phone: 0417 218 463
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Richardson Primary School

Street address: May Gibbs Close, Richardson ACT 2905
Phone: 0417 385 305
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Turner School Age Care 

Street address: David Street, Turner ACT 2612
Phone: 0477 651 993 or 0420 532 471
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Yarralumla School Age Care 

Street address: Loftus Street, Yarralumla ACT 2600
Phone: 0447 445 209 
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Covenant Christian School Age Care 

Street address: 1 Woodcock Drive, Gordon ACT 2906
Phone: 02 6185 2040 or 0439 588 696
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Miles Franklin School Age Care 

Street address: 25 Alderman St, Evatt ACT 2617
Phone: 0408 478 789
Email: childcareaccounts@ywca-canberra.org.au

Complaints

If a family has any concerns about the care of their children they are encouraged to talk with the program manager or educator on site.

However, if you feel the concern is not resolved, you can talk to the Operations Manager on 02 6185 2040.

You can also raise your concerns by submitting a feedback form on this page. This will be delivered to our Quality and Risk Manager. All complaints are investigated and responded to swiftly.

We always aim for a consultative process and a positive resolution for all involved.

For serious issues or matters you do not feel have been resolved using the above methods, you can contact the ACT regulator, Children’s Education and Care Assurance, on 02 6207 1114.

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Chiara Will

Chiara Will is the Director of School Age Care at YWCA Canberra, bringing over 13 years of experience across the early learning and school age care settings. Throughout her career, she has been committed to creating high-quality programs that support children to feel safe, connected, and confident as they learn, play, and grow.

Passionate about child safety and wellbeing, Chiara believes every child has the right to experience environments that are nurturing, inclusive, and responsive to their individual needs. She is a strong advocate for continuity in children’s learning and development, recognising the importance of meaningful partnerships between families, schools, educators, and the broader community in supporting positive outcomes for children.

Chiara is equally passionate about developing and empowering educators. She is committed to mentoring teams, fostering reflective practice, and supporting ongoing professional growth to build confident and capable educators who can make a lasting difference in children’s lives.

Shane McAlpine

Shane is Director of Children’s Services (ECEC) at YWCA Canberra, overseeing eight early learning services with 24 years of experience in the early childhood sector. He brings an extensive understanding of education and care, current practices, and regulatory requirements, with a robust approach to developing high-quality practitioners. 

Shane supports the day-to-day operation of educational practices and curriculum across all our early learning centres, with quality and pedagogical practice at the forefront. He plays a critical role in providing escalation support and mentorship to centre directors and educators alike. 

His professional passions include children’s rights, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and teaching perspectives, and advocacy for the early childhood profession. He is an active representative on the ACT committee of Early Childhood Australia. 

As a father of two children who have experienced the early years system firsthand, Shane brings a deeply personal understanding of the challenges families face in balancing work and parenting. This perspective shapes his inclusive, stakeholder-centred approach to service delivery across every centre he works with. 

Katherine Hellwig

Katherine is the Executive Director of Children’s Services at YWCA Canberra, bringing over 23 years of extensive experience in delivering education and care in ACT and the surrounding areas of the city. Her career spans both not-for-profit and commercial providers, highlighting her versatile and adaptable nature. 

For over 11 years, Katherine has held an executive role within a not-for-profit organisation that experienced significant growth in its early education and care portfolio. Her responsibilities included managing programs and initiatives that fostered engagement within the local community. 

Katherine began her career as an educator, and this hands-on experience has given her a profound understanding of the critical role educators play in the lives of children and families. Her qualifications include an Advanced Diploma of Children’s Services, an Undergraduate Certificate in Service Management, and a Diploma of Leadership and Management. In 2018, Katherine was honoured with the Community for Children’s Award by the ACT Children’s Week Committee, recognising her dedication and impact on the community.  

Katherine is driven by a strong pedagogical belief that all children have the right to access quality early learning in their first five years of life. She focuses on delivering high-quality education and care in both early education and after school care programs, ensuring children receive the best start in life.  

Frances Crimmins

Frances Crimmins is the Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canberra and has led the organisation since 2013, driving significant growth, high-quality integrated service delivery, and stronger corporate efficiency. Under her leadership, the non-profit organisation has become a courageous community advocate, ensuring the needs of vulnerable communities are seen, heard, and addressed locally and nationally. 

Frances brings a diverse background spanning the private and not-for-profit sectors across business, hospitality, healthcare, and community services. She remains a passionate advocate for policy initiatives addressing the root causes of women’s housing insecurity, homelessness, gender inequality, and gender-based violence. 

Frances also currently serves as Chair of Homelessness Australia and sits on the ACT Work Health Safety Advisory Council. Her former board roles include ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), WESNET, the ACT Ministerial Advisory Committee for Women, and Co-Chair of Anti-Poverty Week in the ACT. 

Her leadership has been recognised with an Edna Ryan Award (2015), ACT Leader of the Year at the Australian Leadership Excellence Awards (2016), and selection into the inaugural Social Impact Leadership Australia (SILA) program (2021). Frances regularly represents YWCA Canberra at the United Nations Commission for the Status of Women in New York. 

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