SDN Hamilton St, Bathurst

“I get great satisfaction from supporting children, families and staff, and work hard to create an environment that facilitates excellence in education and care for all.”

My qualifications and experience 

I have been working in the Early Childhood sector for over 35 years in various roles from Educator to Room Leader, and now as Centre Director. 

I started working at SDN Mosman in the 1980’s before moving to Bathurst with my husband. Once we settled in Bathurst, I started at SDN Hamilton St on a casual basis while my family was growing, then went from part time to full time in my present role. 

What I'm most passionate about in my role

Family and community are extremely important to me. I get great satisfaction from supporting children, families and staff and work hard to create an environment that facilitates excellence in education and care for all. 

Having generations of families who have come through the centre gives the centre such a strong feeling of community. This includes listening to the stories that past children, grandparents, aunts and uncles share about their time at the centre, which embeds a feeling of “home” that is evident when you walk through our doors.

What I love about working with SDN 

Working for SDN is an honour, where children and families are at the centre of everything we do. 

There is a huge focus on acknowledging people's individual strengths and work. We are always ensuring that we deliver best practice within our community of early childhood educators, as well as across the entire organisation. 

They also provide an environment where staff are supported to continue their learning journey and are acknowledged for this.  

A little bit more about me 

I love spending time with my family and friends on our farm, where we breed cattle. 

Growing bodies need movement and exercise. Growing minds need stimulus and exploration. Growing hearts need opportunities to play and mix with others.

At SDN we know that the best thing we can do for your infant or toddler is to support them to grow and develop in safe, unhurried, nurturing and challenging environments.

Because infants and toddlers are naturally curious, our centres have well-equipped indoor and outdoor areas that will keep your child moving and give them daily opportunities to explore their limits and grow their abilities.

Your child is unique and so we will devise a learning and development program within our curriculum pillars, based on what we know about your child’s interests, learning and development. Because they will always be changing and growing, we consistently review the program to ensure we are keeping up with your child’s development, providing them with the best learning opportunities.

Read more about our practice with children here.

Get more than school-ready, get life-ready 

Getting school-ready is a journey. It begins with your child’s very first day at our welcoming early education and care centres and continues with our dedicated preschool program.

Developed by university-trained early childhood teachers, our preschool program focuses on the whole child. Children learn to make friends and work together, while gaining the skills and independence they need to thrive through the big transition to school.

Our preschool program follows an evidence-backed, play-based learning approach. Children have fun and follow their curiosity, while we weave in vital skills and learning outcomes.

SDN uses Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework to explore a diverse curriculum from science to social justice. Our days are predictable but flexible, blending structured and spontaneous learning, free play, movement and quiet time.

Our curriculum pillars are:

Our centres have a transition to school program where our teachers and educators work together with local schools to prepare your child for a smooth transition, and support families through the process.

Read more about our preschool program here.

SDN's outdoor spaces provide opportunities for children to enjoy themselves and have adventures. They’re safe environments for children to run, jump and yell, make mud cakes, and use their energy. Outdoor spaces provide more than physical benefits. Even though you may think that children only play outside to have fun, they're also improving their thinking, social, and emotional skills. When they’re playing outside, they’re inventing games, learning about the world at their own pace and figuring out social customs like turn taking.

SDN Hamilton Street has a large outdoor play area with lots of trees to provide shade in the summer and sun-dappled adventures during the winter. Their outdoor space also has a wide slide, two play stages, and a gazebo with toys, book shelves, and couches.

The traditional owners of the Bathurst area are the Wiradjuri People.

SDN Hamilton Street, Bathurst first opened its doors in 1951. The centre answered an increasing need for child care brought on by the growing number of women joining the workforce during and after the Second World War. SDN Hamilton Street, Bathurst opened in a modern, purpose-built nursery school with scaled-down proportions “so that it is a little school for little people”, the architects said. SDN has continued to provide a safe and caring and learning space for the children of Bathurst for more than 60 years.

Since its beginnings, SDN Hamilton Street, Bathurst has reflected a strong connection with local families, and supported SDN's vision and commitment to enhancing the wellbeing and development of all children.

Read more about SDN Hamilton Street history here. 

From 1 July 2024, our fees will be $167 per day for children under three years old and $159 per day for children three years and over.

The majority of families in our centres do not pay the full daily fee because they receive Child Care Subsidy (CCS) from the government.

The subsidy you may receive through the CCS will depend on:

• Your combined family income
• The number of hours you work, study or participate in recognised volunteer work. This is called the ‘activity test’. If your child is in the year before school, if you are on a very low income, or if you are on parental leave, you will not have to pass the activity test to receive some CCS.

Your child will need to meet immunisation requirements and you will need to meet residency requirements to be eligible to receive the CCS.

You can also calculate what your out-of-pocket child care costs will be on the government’s Starting Blocks Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

NSW Start Strong funding - Additional Preschool Fee Relief

On top of any CCS you may receive, the NSW Government is providing additional fee relief:

• If your child turns 4 years old or before 31 July 2024, is enrolled in a preschool program at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $2,110 in fee relief.
• If your child is 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on, or before 31 July in 2024, is enrolled at an eligible long day care service and doesn’t receive preschool relief (also called start strong funding) from another preschool, you will receive up to $500 in fee relief.

Find more information about the Start Strong program here. If you’ve read this information and you’re still unsure about what you’ll pay, please call us on 1300 831 445 or book a centre tour. We’re happy to answer your questions.

0-2 Babies

• Change of clothes x2
• Hat – sun safe  
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Shoes and Socks
• Comforter – soft toy/blanket/dummy
• Bottles and milk formula/breast milk
• Blanket / Cot sheets

2-3 Toddlers

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Comforter – for rest time
• Blankets

3-5 Preschoolers  

• Spare underwear
• Change of clothes
• Hat – sun safe
• Shoes and Socks
• Warm clothes / Jacket (for outside play)
• Drink Bottle
• Blankets