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Services

Child Care

127 Stirling Road
PORT AUGUSTA SA 5700

Phone: (08) 8642 5702
Fax: (08) 8641 9157
E-mail: childcare@portaugusta.sa.gov.au

Hours of Operation

7:45 am – 5:45 pm, Monday to Friday

The Port Augusta City Council has been providing quality childcare services to the Port Augusta community since 1976.

What we have to offer

  • A relaxed, friendly and caring atmosphere, with safe, secure, spacious indoor and outdoor areas and an extensive range of educational resources to enhance your child’s development.
  • Specific sections for babies, toddlers and kindy children catering for the developmental, social and emotional level of your child.
  • Highly qualified, friendly, caring and dedicated educators that are committed to developing partnerships with families.
  • A wide variety of play based learning opportunities through structured group activities, quiet times and unstructured play.
  • Individual program developed according to each child's needs.

Whether you require care for work, study, or wish to offer your children socialisation and educational activities, the Centre provides care options for the following ages:

  • 6 wks–2 yrs (Babies Program)
  • 2–3 yrs (Toddler Program)
  • 3–5 yrs (Kindy Program)

Our Philosophy

Port Augusta City Council Childcare Centre. OUR CHILD CARE PHILOSOPHY. At Port Augusta Child Care Centre, we believe every child is a unique, capable and valued individual. Our aim is to provide a home away from home where children feel safe, supported and cared. CHILD SAFETY & WELLBEING: Child safety is at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an environment where children are protected, respected, and always listened to. Our educators follow strict policies and procedures to ensure children’s physical and emotional safety, including active supervision, safe environments, and respectful care practices. We promote children’s rights and wellbeing and support children to feel confident, secure, and able to express their feelings. STRONG RELATIONSHIPS & PARTNERSHIPS: We understand that children thrive when they feel safe and emotionally supported. Our educators build warm, caring, and respectful relationships with each child, taking time to understand their personalities, interests, routines, and individual needs. We work in partnership with families, valuing open communication and shared decision-making to support consistency between home and care. PLAY-BASED LEARNING: Play is at the heart of our learning program. Through play-based experiences, children are encouraged to explore, imagine, problem-solve, and express themselves. Our educators thoughtfully plan learning experiences that support confidence, independence, creativity, and resilience, while nurturing each child's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. INCLUSION & BELONGING: We believe in creating inclusive environments where every child feels accepted and valued. We celebrate diversity, respect different cultures and family backgrounds, and support children to develop kindness, empathy, and positive relationships. Educators model respectful behaviour and guide children in developing social skills in a calm, supportive, and age-appropriate way. A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT: Our learning environments are designed to feel warm, welcoming, and comfortable, reflecting the familiarity and care of home. We support children's individual routines, rest needs, and self-help skills, encouraging independence while providing reassurance and guidance when needed. SUSTAINABILITY & COMMUNITY: We are committed to caring for the environment and supporting children to develop an understanding of sustainability and their role within the wider community. Through everyday practices such as recycling, reducing waste, conserving water and energy, and engaging with nature, children learn to respect and care for the world around them. We encourage sustainable habits through hands-on experiences, discussions, and play-based learning, helping children develop a sense of responsibility, curiosity, and connection to the environment. Our educators model environmentally responsible practices and support children to become confident, caring, and informed contributors to a sustainable future. By working in partnership with families, we aim to nurture happy, confident children who feel safe, supported, and empowered to learn, grow, and thrive.

Service Quality

At Port Augusta Childcare Centre, we will strive to improve our service to meet the National Quality Standards through self−improvement, critical reflection, with involvement from families, educators and the children.  The Centre’s current rating is as follows:

Port Augusta Child Care Centre (SE-00010800) Has achieved the following ratings: Quality Area 1 - Educational program and practice - Working Towards NQS; Quality Area 2 - Children’s health and safety - Working Towards NQS; Quality Area 3 - Physical environment - Working Towards NQS; Quality Area 4 - Staffing arrangements - Meeting NQS; Quality Area 5 - Relationships with children - Working Towards NQS; Quality Area 6 - Collaborative partnerships with families and communities - Working Towards NQS; Quality Area 7 - Leadership and service management - Working Towards NQS; Overall Rating - Working Towards NQS;

Download the Notice of Rating

Educational Curriculum

The educational curriculum at the Centre is based on the National Early Years Learning Framework for children under five years and Learning Stories and observations. Learning Stories provide photo evidence and a narrative story about the skills learnt and developed through the experiences offered to your child.  The Centre uses ‘Storypark’ to document children’s learning.

The combination of both National Early Years Learning Framework and Learning Stories provide a picture of your child's whole development which is shared with you to enable you to monitor your child’s progress.

Educators will provide your child with developmental programs that encourage and support your child's individual skills, abilities and interest.  Families are encouraged to provide input to this process through focus areas, information on special interests or suggestions for further development.

Fees

Fees vary according to your income and eligibility for Childcare Subsidy.

Please contact the Centre on 8642 5702 a confidential discussion regarding fee levels based on your individual circumstances.

Food & Nutrition

We have a demonstrated commitment to providing a healthy and nutritional balanced diet for your child. We aim to provide an eating environment that is safe, positive and supports healthy eating for all children.

Bungala delivers freshly prepared meals every day, made with high-quality ingredients to ensure optimal nutrition. Each meal is carefully crafted to provide a balanced combination of vitamins, minerals, and proteins, promoting overall health and well-being. All educators are trained in safe food handling procedures.

The Centre can accommodate specific dietary requirements, which will be discussed at the time of enrolment/orientation.

Each day your child will receive morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea. The Centre’s menu is set in consultation with a qualified Dietician and in accordance with our Food and Nutrition Policy, which emphasises:

  • Low in salt, sugar and fat
  • High in fibre
  • Good eating habits
  • High nutritional values

Childcare Policies