YWCA Canberra Welcomes SPK Early Learning Service: Expanding Quality Early Childhood Education in Canberra

We’re thrilled to share some wonderful news with our community. YWCA Canberra has officially welcomed SPK Early Learning Service, located in O’Connor, into our portfolio of early learning services and providing security for families, educators and children in the inner north of Canberra. 
 
About SPK Early Learning Service 

SPK Early Learning Service provides early learning and care for 52 children aged 2–5 years and is committed to high‑quality, developmentally appropriate programs that support each child’s learning and wellbeing. With this acquisition, families accessing SPK ECEC will benefit from the full breadth of YWCA Canberra’s expertise, resources, and values-driven approach to early childhood education. 

As a non‑profit provider of eight early learning services, YWCA Canberra supports nearly 4,000 families each week. Safeguarding, growth, and development of the children under our care remain our highest priorities. Accordingly, the addition of SPK Early Learning Service strengthens our ability to deliver consistent, high‑quality early learning for children across Canberra, with the institution drawing on more than 40 years of experience as an early learning service provider.  

Setting the Benchmark 

Our commitment to quality is reflected not only in the care we provide, but in the recognition we receive. This year, YWCA Canberra was once again awarded the Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) Citation by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) for the 13th year running. This citation demonstrates our steadfast commitment to creating equity that better supports the girls and women in our community. Five of our eight early learning services are also rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard (NQS) by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), an accolade that represents the dedication of our educators in crafting learning environments for children where they are nurtured, challenged, and supported to thrive. 

What does this mean for families at SPK ECEC? 

Families currently enrolled at SPK Early Learning Service can expect continuity of care, with the same dedicated educators they know and trust, now supported by our wider YWCA Canberra network. 

Recent changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), known as the 3 Day Guarantee or ‘universal childcare’, mean eligible families can now access at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight (equivalent to three days per week).  

In addition, all our ACT early learning services are approved providers under the free three-year-old preschool initiative. This allows eligible families to receive further fee reductions – on top of CCS – for up to 300 hours of preschool each year, delivered in the same familiar environment where your child already feels safe and supported.  

We look forward to growing alongside the SPK Early Learning Service community and building on the strong foundation already in place. Together, we continue to shape a future where every child in our community has access to the highest quality care and education they deserve. 

Learn more about SPK Early Learning Service here. 

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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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