Our Vision, Mission, Values and Philosophy

At QDPA, we believe that every child is unique, capable, and deserving of high-quality early childhood education that respects their individual strengths, cultural identity, and developmental journey. We view children as active participants in their learning and empower them through play-based, experiential learning environments that nurture and cultivate a love of learning, curiosity, resilience, and sense of belonging.

We strongly believe children have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to have their voices heard. We are dedicated to being strong advocates for children’s rights, through the principles of the United Nations Rights of the Child and provide and support children with opportunities to develop relationships and engage with their peers, educators, families, and community, with the aim of building each child’s confidence to communicate their thoughts and feelings. 

We are committed to fostering strong partnerships with families and the broader community, recognising that collaboration is key to ensuring children thrive. Inclusion, equity, and respect for all forms of diversity guide our practices. We believe that education is a tool for promoting social justice and children’s rights. We strive to create environments where every child feels safe, valued, and empowered to express themselves fully.

We hold high expectations for our educators to ensure they align with our values, beliefs, and this philosophy to provide the highest level of care and education for the children. We are committed to recruiting and retaining educators who demonstrate these skills, as well as investing in educators’ growth through a vast range of professional development opportunities.

We strive to create learning environments that inspire children. As co-constructors alongside children, we aim to create nurturing and stimulating environments that encourage curiosity, foster creativity, and support the whole child. We embrace change and innovation, ensuring our programs are responsive to the evolving needs of children, families, and society. 

We also believe that some of the best opportunities for learning are through exploring risks, allowing children to analyse their environments and challenge their own learning and development. We encourage children to play in all environments and weather and to experience the natural world in all its fundamental elements.

We value reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples as being essential to our mission to raise awareness and educate future generations. We acknowledge and are grateful for the Ngunnawal and Ngambri Peoples’ custodianship of the land on which we live, play, teach and learn. We acknowledge that everything we do is on Aboriginal land, and wish to build and maintain strong, meaningful relationships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members.