YWCA CANBERRA

Reid Early Childhood Service

A community-oriented, central early learning centre  

Reid Early Childhood Service is a 67-place, community-oriented practice located in the established and central suburb of Reid. We provide education and care for children age six weeks to five years old.

Situated on the grounds of the Reid Campus of the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), the service offers a vibrant outdoor space with a combination of nature and constructed facilities, encouraging children to play and learn.

Reid Early Childhood Centre follows early education theory, employing experienced educators who work collaboratively with the children. The focus is on consolidating learning, reorganising understanding of the world, building relationships, making connections, and engaging in discussions with children. The Centre values respect and inclusion, embracing children’s diverse perspectives, ideas, and suggestions.

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.

To enrol your child, please click the ‘Request to Enrol’ button.
Learn more about what we provide and how fees are paid.

Quality rating issued: December 2025

  • 27 Amaroo St, Reid (from the car park, walk around corner to front door entrance, located on the CIT campus carpark side of building)
  • 02 6230 5660
  • reid@ywca-canberra.org.au
  • 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday
  • Closed during the Christmas and New Year holiday period

Fees

  • $155.56 per session (routine booking)
  • $158.83 per session (casual booking)
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Our professional educators are committed to forming strong and meaningful bonds and interactions with each child and family at Reid Early Childhood Service.

We are a team of leaders and learners who are passionate about early childhood education. Our qualified team is made up of diverse educators from varying cultures, ages, and backgrounds.

We acknowledge our role in children’s lives as positive role models and educators who can support and promote children’s learning.

Director: Nicola Jeffery

Nicola holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood Studies and Educational Leadership and brings over a decade of experience in early childhood education to her role at YWCA Canberra Reid Early Childhood Service. She is deeply committed to creating high‑quality, inclusive learning environments where every child feels heard, valued, and supported.

Nicola has a strong passion for child‑led, responsive curriculum design, ensuring that learning experiences reflect each child’s interests, strengths, and developmental needs. In her role as Centre Manager, she works closely with educators and families, providing calm and thoughtful leadership while mentoring educators to strengthen practice, build confidence, and support continuous improvement across the service.

Nicola is most inspired by the “light bulb” moments, when children make connections, discover something new, and their learning comes to life. She believes these moments are fostered through strong relationships, trust, and meaningful collaboration, and she takes great pride in leading a centre where children feel a genuine sense of belonging, families feel supported, and educators feel valued.

 

At Reid, we provide flexible learning environments designed to promote children’s inherent curiosity assisting in developing their learning skills and autonomy. The Centre includes various flexible spaces dedicated to specific areas of learning and experience. These spaces provide ample room for children to tinker, explore, and inquire. 
 
Each room is thoughtfully curated to provide a range of creative resources that reflect the concept of sustainability. We know that children are the future stewards of the planet and educating them about sustainability and recycling instils a sense of responsibility towards the environment. Our resources highlight to children the importance of repurposing and recycling, encouraging them to make informed choices and become environmentally conscious throughout their learning journey.

In accordance with early education theory, we collaborate with children to reinforce their learning and shape their perception of the world as they develop and acquire knowledge. Our approach emphasises building relationships, fostering connections, and engaging in discussions with and among children.

 We know that when children feel heard and valued, it boosts their self-esteem and confidence. As a result, they are more likely to participate in conversations and activities. Our educators acknowledge and respect each child’s unique perspectives, opinions, and suggestions. When children are encouraged to share their views, they are more likely to be involved in problem-solving and decision-making, helping to develop their critical thinking skills and preparing them for future challenges.

We actively listen, record, and partner with children in their learning journey, which provides a positive and effective learning experience.

Before 2023, Reid Early Childhood Service was managed by a dedicated parent-led committee. With the hard work of the committee, the Centre was established as a compassionate and inclusive community for children, families, and staff that provides high-quality education and care for the children. 

Now, led by YWCA Canberra, the values and ideals established by the former parent-based committee will be upheld. YWCA Canberra is committed to preserving the engaged and connected community the previous committee created, and we are dedicated to continuing to build upon their legacy.   

The Centre continues to be an integral part of the Reid community, with YWCA Canberra actively involved in the Centre’s daily life. We understand the importance of maintaining strong relationships with the families and staff members and are dedicated to providing the children with the best possible care and education. 

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A community-oriented, central early learning centre ​

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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. 

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