At SHARE, we believe childhood is a precious season – a time for wonder, play and discovery. We provide a space where children are unhurried by the world around them; a “third place” between home and school where they can reset, connect and simply be themselves.

 

Our days are filled with laughter, curiosity and connection. We see every child as capable and unique, bringing their own light to our community. Through play, they take risks, solve problems and dream big, guided by our belief that learning is most powerful when it feels like joy.

 

Our philosophy is guided by the National Quality Framework and My Time, Our Place and is lived through our CARE values.

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Collaborate to Grow Together

SHARE is a cooperative and a community. We believe growth is a shared journey for children, families and educators.

 

We work in partnership with families, recognising them as their children’s first and most important teachers. We want families to feel that their child’s time with us is enriching, joyful and meaningful – an extension of their family time, not a replacement for it. We invite their ideas, celebrate the many different kinds of families who make up SHARE, and aim to genuinely embed their contributions in our decisions, programs and priorities.

 

We feel privileged to be part of the vibrant, values-driven community of Summer Hill. This connection inspires us to celebrate the stories, cultures and wisdom of our families and to nurture strong relationships with our local school and community.

 

Within our team, we collaborate by sharing knowledge, reflecting together and supporting one another. We know that our collective success depends on the contributions and efforts of everyone.

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Advocate for Childhood

We champion the rights, wellbeing and voices of children. Childhood, children’s rights, and their need for play, rest and connection, sits at the centre of everything we do.

 

We create a play-based environment where children can explore, imagine and take risks in ways that are physically and emotionally safe. We value risky and challenging play as powerful opportunities for learning, resilience and problem-solving.

 

We recognise children as active participants in their world, with ideas and perspectives that matter. We listen to them – through conversations, observations and their choices – and use their voices to shape our program, environments, routines and menu. We support children’s agency by offering self-directed and open-ended experiences for all age groups, adapting our approach to meet different developmental needs and abilities.

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Respect and Empower

We treat everyone with kindness, professionalism and respect, fostering an inclusive environment where all feel valued and connected.

 

We honour each child’s identity, strengths and culture. We are committed to equity and inclusion and understand that meeting children’s diverse needs may require us to adapt environments, routines and expectations so that every child can access the same program as their peers.

 

We acknowledge the deep ongoing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples to Country. As educators, we commit to deepening our knowledge of First Nations cultures and histories, to truth-telling, and to sharing what we learn with the children in ways that build respect and curiosity.

 

Our educators are advocates, mentors and partners in creating a world where children feel seen, heard and respected as individuals with rights and agency. We also respect and value each other – recognising the strengths, experience and commitment of our team, including educators who have grown with SHARE over many years.

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Evolve with Excellence

Growth is at the heart of everything we do – for children, families, educators and the wider community.

 

We are committed to continually improving our practice. We dedicate time to critical reflection, professional learning and collaboration so that our work remains responsive, evidence-informed and aligned with our philosophy and the guiding principles of the National Quality Framework, the ECA Code of Ethics, the UNCRC Rights of the Child, and most importantly the OCG’s Child Safe Standards.

 

We take seriously our responsibility to provide a safe, healthy and supportive environment. We hold ourselves accountable to high standards of child safety and wellbeing, ensuring every educator is equipped to identify and respond to risks of harm and uphold every child’s right to feel safe, valued and protected.

 

Located in a unique parkland setting, separate from the school grounds, SHARE offers children freedom to explore and play in a space filled with nature, creativity and opportunity. Through sustainable practices, nature-based play and intentional teaching, we aim to instil a love for this land and a sense of responsibility to care for it.

 

We regularly review our philosophy so that it remains a living document – one that genuinely guides our decisions, policies and daily practice.

 

At SHARE, we create a space where children thrive, families feel confident, and our community grows stronger. Together, we are building not just a program, but a legacy of care, respect and shared growth.