YWCA CANBERRA

Conder Early
Childhood Service

A nurturing service in the heart of the Lanyon community

Vacancies available

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Overview

Conder is a 67-place early childhood education and care centre nestled in the heart of the Lanyon Valley, where we have proudly served our community since 1994. We provide high-quality education and care for children aged six weeks to five years, fostering a nurturing environment that supports their growth and development.

We are proud of our close partnership with Charles Conder Primary School, which helps ensure a seamless transition to school for our children. This relationship includes regular visits to the school throughout the year, creating familiarity and confidence for children entering primary education. Additionally, we are the trusted provider of before and after school care for Charles Conder Primary School, extending our commitment to families in our community.

The team at Conder provide warm, nurturing, high-quality experiences for the children in their service through collaborative partnerships with their families and community.

When you use any of our YWCA Canberra children’s services programs, you help to support our community activities such as our housing programs, community development, youth engagement, and education to prevent domestic and family violence.

Fees

Permanent Booking

$155.38 per session

Casual Booking

$158.83 per session

Quality Rating:

Issued December 2025

MP107800
MP107830
MP107879-HDR
MP107901
MP107735
MP107744
MP107754
MP107777
MP107782
MP107794

All you need to know

Family testimonials

My son and daughter went there for 2 years and we really appreciate the love and care all the educators gave to them. They settled in quick and had great connection to their educators. I highly commend their Director, Haijing, who is not only professional, but also very approachable. She has great connection to families which makes it easier to settle any issues on the way. We have now moved intersate but we still treasure the special time we had at YWCA Conder Childcare. Pat on the back to all the educators! You are all doing a good job there!
My 2 girls have been at this service for 6 months and we are so grateful to have found a centre that cares about the kids. I love that the playground includes opportunities for kids to take risks in their play and that the educators send me updates everyday on what they've been doing. The staff are so lovely and helpful and always happy to talk through any concerns. Overall, we've been very happy with this centre.
The childcare facility boasts a team of highly trained and experienced staff who are dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for children. The center offers a variety of programs and activities designed to meet the individual needs of each child, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. I highly recommend this childcare facility to any families living in the south Canberra area.

A nurturing service in the heart of the Lanyon community

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Waitlist Application Forms

If you would like to fill up on a Waitlist Application Form,
click on which Childhood Service you prefer.

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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