YWCA CANBERRA

Reid Early
Childhood Service

A community-oriented, central early learning centre

Vacancies available

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Overview

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.

Fees

Permanent Booking

$164.58 per session

Casual Booking

$168.03 per session

Quality Rating:

Issued December 2025

MP108263
MP108277-HDR
MP108203
MP108204
MP108214
MP108225
MP108257

All you need to know

Testimonials

Can't speak highly enough of this centre. The educators are great and it feels like a real community. My daughter is happy to go every day. They have lovely spaces with some recent upgrades. The shady outdoor area is a real favourite of my daughter. So glad to have found this centre.
Absolutely recommend this centre. My son has been attending for over 2 years and I am very happy with the way the daycare is run. Staff are kind and attentive, food is always fresh and there is a variety of yummy dishes for kids and the director has always been very kind to me and my son. I can’t speak highly enough! I don’t live in the area but feel like the daily drive is 100% worth it. My son loves it there!
The best day care! My two boys attended this day care for 3 years. I felt so safe leaving them in the care of the amazing teachers. My eldest child has a disability and I felt the teachers went above and beyond every day to look after his needs, even supporting him to build his social skills. Thank you so much to Dana, Nicola and all of the teachers. We are so grateful to have found such a great day care for our time in Canberra.

A community-oriented, central early learning centre ​

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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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