Emmikins Early Learning Centre

Here we go! this is going to be a long review, but an honest, heartfelt one from myself as a parent and an early... Here we go! this is going to be a long review, but an honest, heartfelt one from myself as a parent and an early childhood educator. I feel incredibly fortunate to have found Emmikins ELC a place that has supported not only my child’s development but also my own return to work after maternity leave. I began my journey at Emmikins just after the lockdowns ended, stepping into the role of an assistant in the kinder room while my daughter started in the Toddlers Room. From the very beginning, Beth stood out as someone who truly sees people not just as job applicants or enrolments, but as whole humans with lives, families, and needs. She was the only centre director who genuinely offered me the time of day, encouraging me to “just bring your child along to the interview. We’re a childcare centre, and if we can’t look after your little one while you talk with us, then what hope do we have for the future of the industry?” Those words have stayed with me ever since. They weren’t just said in kindness they were backed by action, open arms, and a team culture that reflected that same warmth and care. In contrast to the more sterile and rigid feel of other centres I interviewed with across Ringwood, Croydon, and Bayswater, Emmikins had a warmth and comfort to it. It felt like coming home. I’ll always be grateful to Beth and Carolynn for answering that very first call. I was a nervous parent, just trying to find care for my child so I could attend a job interview. Their support in that moment meant everything. As a parent at Emmikins, I’ve always felt heard, supported, and included in my daughter’s journey. The communication with the educators has been open and honest, we’ve talked through the amazing, the bad, and the downright chaotic (if you know, you know!). Asking toddlers to behave is like trying to wash a cat, it’s not for the faint of heart! But together, we discussed strategies, shared ideas, and found ways to move forward with consistency and care. Beth, being a parent herself, always added her thoughtful input when needed, and that support made all the difference during my daughter’s time at the centre. Working here while also being a parent hasn’t always been easy, we all know the juggle, but I’ve never felt alone in it. The team has been nothing short of amazing: supportive, flexible, and genuinely collaborative. I’m always seen and respected first as a mother and parent, and equally as an educator and part of the team. As an educator, I had all but given up on the early childhood sector before joining Emmikins. After too many experiences in centres that felt clinical, unchanging, and disheartening where educators were treated as just another number to meet ratios or entirely disposable, I truly felt defeated. But under Beth’s leadership, I found what I thought was lost: support, encouragement, and a renewed passion for this work. She saw value in me not just as a staff member, but as someone with something meaningful to contribute both as a parent and an educator, helping to support other new families as they too took this journey at the centre. Thanks to her guidance and the culture she’s built, I fell in love with my role again. I feel empowered, appreciated, and proud to be part of this team. Now, with my youngest having started school, I’ve settled into my full-time role in the babies room. It’s bittersweet watching our time at Emmikins evolve, but it’s a joy to still be part of the community that gave so much to both me and my family. Emmikins isn’t just a workplace or a childcare centre it’s a second family. The care, empathy, and genuine passion within these walls are rare to find, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly, whether you’re a parent looking for care or an educator searching for a place to belong. It has truly been an incredible experience, and one I’ll always be grateful for with that very first call. Read more