Media Release: Mission Australia Launches South Australian Early Learning Centres

Mission Australia will introduce a new era of child care to South Australia today with the launch of its three “family focused” early learning centres in Adelaide.

The centres at Redwood Park, Elizabeth and Osborne are former ABC Learning sites – part of the 29 centres Mission Australia acquired earlier this year and took over in June.

Mission Australia Early Learning Service’s CEO Karen Twitchett says the launch of the sites represented a new beginning for South Australian children and their families.

“Months of planning, co-ordination and consultation with leading developmental and learning experts have ensured these centres are ready to provide the best care and learning services for children and their families,” Ms Twitchett said.

The launch of the Mission Australia Early Learning Services in South Australia will be staged at the Osborne Early Learning Centre at Lot 19, Brookman St, Osborne, from 8.30 am, Tuesday, 22 September.

Children will have their faces painted during the “party” and will engage in activities including “children’s yoga”, a jumping castle and cake cutting. Ms Twitchett will read the children a story between 8.30 am and 10.30 am.

Ms Twitchett said Mission Australia’s Early Learning services would work with families and their communities to provide high quality education and care with an emphasis on supporting children to make a successful transition to school.

“We take a holistic approach to early childhood learning which means we look at all aspects of a child’s life to ensure they can get the different types of care they need,” said Ms Twitchett

“We envisage that in the future our centres will become community hubs where children, their families and other community groups can connect and access a range of services.”

As a not-for-profit provider, Mission Australia Early Learning Services has a very different structure and approach to the previous owner, ABC Learning, noted Ms Twitchett.

“Because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, any surpluses generated from Mission Australia’s centres will be returned straight back into the services to deliver better outcomes for children.

“The bottom line for us is that we’re here to provide high quality early learning and care and to make a long-term difference. We run our services for the benefit of children, families and the community – not shareholders,” said Ms Twitchett.

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Parents interested in enrolling their children in Mission Australia Early Learning Centres in South Australia can contact:

• Elizabeth Vale Centre on 08 8252 8539 - view map
• Osborne Centre on 08 8248 2355 - view map
• Redwood Park Centre on 08 8265 0758 - view map
• You can find out more about Mission Australia Early Learning Services at our website.