Mother Duck Childcare and Kindergarten Gaythorne

• Environments Carefully Created for Children

• Care and Attention for Each Individual Child

• Play-Based Learning to Prepare Each Child for Success

• Strong Relationships With Families to Create Communities

• Welcoming Centres Where Diversity is Celebrated

• Caring Educators Who Love Coming to Work

• Sports program
• Music program
• School readiness program
• Incursions with the local library (Kindergarten Children)

Miss Mel - Nominated Supervisor and Franchisee

Miss Mel began her Childcare career in 2000 and joined the Mother Duck Team in 2016. Miss Mel ensures to provide a home away from home for children, families and educators. Miss Mel completed her Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services in 2009.

Miss Sonia - Nominated Supervisor

Miss Sonia has been a part of Mother Duck since 2017 and joined the Gaythorne Leadership team in 2024.

Miss Sonia builds strong relationships not only within the service but also with the wider community.

Miss Sonia completed her Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in 2021.

Miss Therese - Pedagogical Coordinator

Miss Therese started in Early Childhood more than 16 years ago, 8 years of which have been with Mother Duck Gaythorne.

Miss Therese builds strong relationships with children, families, and educators.

Miss Therese completed her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2017.

Along with the Leadership Team, we have several educators who have been with Mother Duck for many years. 

Mother Duck’s own dietitian, Fiona Hinton, prepares the menus for the centre and has over 20 years of experience. Fiona specialises in real-life strategies and practical suggestions to convert nutrition advice into food kids will eat. Fiona has collaborated on several books, including one with best-selling children’s food writer Annabel Karmel, as well as training childcare staff in children’s nutrition.

At Mother Duck Gaythorne, the children play a role in ordering the food each week, often sharing their opinions on what fruit and vegetables should be on offer. The children are also responsible for collecting the food from the kitchen and bringing it to their studio for each meal time.

Each studio has a dining area where the children eat all of their meals. The mealtimes are progressive allowing the children to decide when they are hungry. The children also serve their own meals, wash their dishes and assist with the set up and cleanup of the space.