At Kanooka, we believe in providing a rich and nurturing environment for children, where their inquisitive minds may lead them to become lifelong learners. We strive to achieve this by providing a safe, secure and inclusive environment for the children to explore, discover and grow.

We celebrate each individual’s uniqueness, strengths and interests. We take pride in the unity and inclusiveness that characterises our learning community. We embrace its rich and multicultural fabric and embed this into our program and practices. We also have a strong focus on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders cultures, promoting their appreciation among children, families and staff alike.

We believe that the early years are critical for establishing self-esteem, resilience, healthy growth and capacity to learn. Therefore, our play-based program is child-led, ensuring that learning is relevant and interesting for each individual child. Educators provide engaging learning experiences based upon children's skills, needs and interests, while also scaffolding learning through intentional teaching. Our program’s value the child as a strong and capable learner, rich with wonder and knowledge. We are dedicated to collaboration with our families and the community, who play a vital role as the primary caregivers and educators of children.

We also hold the belief that children thrive within a healthy environment that supports their development both as unique individuals and valued community members. Children’s emotional well-being is at the forefront of our teaching. Our programs and practices aim at helping children learn about self-respect, identity and resilience. They also convey and promote a sense of belonging and responsibility towards both the local and the broader community. This is achieved by embedding sustainable practices, respect for the land, its people, as well as all animals and plants in our daily activities.

At Kanooka we support children to become self-sufficient, responsible and empathetic members of our community, both now and in the future. This is summarised in our motto: