YWCA CANBERRA

SPK Early Learning Service

Offering over 40 years of combined experience in providing early learning education for children in and around Canberra.

Established in 1992, SPK Early Learning Service in O’Connor offers over 40 years of combined experience in providing early learning education for children in and around Canberra. We strive to create a nurturing space where children can flourish, learn, and grow. Our location near the city offers convenience for parents commuting to and from work.

SPK Early Learning Service is a 52-place service, providing early learning and care for children aged 2–5 years, and is committed to delivering high-quality, developmentally appropriate programs that support each child’s learning and wellbeing.

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: November 2025

  • 24 Macpherson St O’Connor
    Corner of Moorhouse Street
    and Mcpherson St
  • 02 6248 9868
  • spk@ywca-canberra.org.au
  • 7.30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday
  • Closed during the Christmas and New Year holiday period

Fees

  • $140.00 per session
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Director: Kim

Kim is a familiar and much-loved face at SPK Early Learning Service and for good reason. With 13 years at the centre and five in the Director role, she has grown alongside the families, the team, and the community she serves. 

Kim’s journey into early childhood began in 1997 and she’s worked her way up from the floor, taking on the role of Educational Leader before stepping into the Director position which is a path that gave her a deep, grounded understanding of what quality early learning really looks like in practice.

Looking ahead, Kim’s goal is simple and steadfast. It’s to keep providing the quality care and education that current and future families deserve. Her focus for the year ahead is what it has always been: continuing to provide a quality, caring service for the families of today and tomorrow.

Our philosophy is based on creating a positive, engaging and enjoyable early childhood education experience for the children under our care. We combine structured learning with play and flexibility, creating a learning environment that facilitates growth. This approach not only helps the children to have a smooth transition to school but also ensures that both children and parents enjoy their time with us.

Our open-plan design encourages easy communication between children and our dedicated team of educators. Healthy habits are instilled through healthy, nutritious snacks and engaging physical activities, promoting overall well-being. Families are always encouraged to participate in our community, fostering a sense of connection and support. Our goal is to provide compassionate and inclusive early learning, carefully guiding children aged 2 to 5 through their formative years with dedication and care.

In our structured learning environment, we arrange children into two age-specific groups—pre-preschoolers and preschoolers. This provides age-appropriate activities that cater to the unique developmental stages of each child. The open-plan design includes shared play and exploration, promoting a warm and family-friendly atmosphere. Our emphasis on social and emotional responsibility includes building essential skills such as sharing, conflict resolution, and social development.

Our comprehensive school readiness education covers a spectrum of essential skills, ranging from emotional regulation and decision-making to motor skills, mathematics, science, and language development. We recognise that every child learns at their own pace, and we strive to provide a supportive and accepting environment where flexibility ensures that no child is left behind.

At SPK Early Learning Service, we cultivate a culture of togetherness, which we believe differentiates us from other services. Operating as a close-knit community, our inclusive approach invites families to participate actively with their children in our centre. This connection between home, community, and the centre provides a supportive environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.

We always strive to engage positively with our families and the wider O’Connor community. We know that nothing occurs in isolation, and the community in which we live and work has an important impact on our lives and those of the families and children. 

Waitlist Application

An inviting and inclusive environment that feels like home.

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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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