Exceeding Expectations: Inside Our Education and Care Services’ National Quality Standard Success

We’re thrilled to share that two of our services, Conder Early Learning Centre and Reid Early Learning Centre have been rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS) following their latest Assessment and Rating processes.

These outstanding results recognise the dedication of our educators and leaders in creating environments where children are nurtured, challenged, and supported to thrive. While Conder and Reid now join our list of exceeding-rated services, including Winyu Early Childhood Service, Campbell Cottage, Currawong Early Childhood and Aranda School Age Care Service, we are proud that all our services continue to deliver high-quality education and care to Canberra’s children and families.

What does ‘Exceeding NQS’ mean?

The National Quality Standard sets the benchmark for what quality early learning looks like in Australia. It sits within the National Quality Framework (NQF) the nationally recognised approach to ensuring children receive the best start in life through safe, high-quality education and care.

The NQS includes seven Quality Areas that together form a holistic picture of service quality:

  • Educational Program and Practice: Meaningful, play-based learning experiences that nurture children’s growth and wellbeing.
  • Children’s Health and Safety: Hygiene, supervision, and protection measures that ensure every child’s safety.
  • Physical Environment: Engaging spaces that invite discovery, play, and sustainability.
  • Staffing Arrangements: Qualified educators and consistent relationships that foster belonging and learning.
  • Relationships with Children: Warm, respectful connections that help children feel secure and confident.
  • Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities: Strong relationships between educators, families, and the community.
  • Governance and Leadership: Effective leadership and a culture of reflection and continuous improvement.

Why it matters for children and families

For families, a Meeting or Exceeding rating offers meaningful assurance that their children are learning and growing in an environment where care, relationships, and education meet and often go beyond national quality expectations. For children, it means being part of a place where curiosity is encouraged, belonging is celebrated, and each day provides new opportunities to explore, discover, and connect.

We are incredibly proud of our Conder and Reid teams, and all our educators for their passion, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to high-quality outcomes for children.

Stay connected with us on social media!

Facebook Instagram Linkedin

Chiara Will

Chiara is Director of School Age Care at YWCA Canberra, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a diverse range of leadership and management experience across the Early Childhood Education sector. Having held roles from Administration Officer to Centre Director, she brings a holistic skill base and a strength in solution-based approaches to learning. 

Prior to joining YWCA Canberra, Chiara led a team of over 25 educators, driving policy development, professional training and development, and contributing to Quality Improvement, Sustainability, Reconciliation, and Strategic Inclusion Action Plans. 

In her current role, Chiara leads the strategic development of processes and systems that ensure high-quality, safe, and inclusive environments for children. She mentors and empowers managers, leaders, and educators to deliver best-practice programs aligned with regulatory standards, fosters strong stakeholder partnerships, and guides the Quality Support Team in managing compliance and quality assurance across services. 

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. 

Enquire now

Preferred tour date