This year, St Nicholas Early Education continued to grow in both reach and heart. We announced two new Early Education centres in Forster and Kotara South, both set to open early in 2026. These centres offer new opportunities to support families and strengthen community connections. Each reflects our commitment to creating places where more families can belong, learn and thrive.
2025 was also a defining year for our workforce. Through the Australian Government’s Worker Retention Grant, we secured a 10 per cent wage increase for eligible educators, with a further five per cent in December 2025. This milestone speaks to our belief that when educators are supported and valued, children and families flourish. It’s well-earned recognition of the skills and heart our teams bring to their work each day.
Innovation has also been front and centre. We began rolling out OWNA, our new childcare management app and system, which offers more efficiency and variety in the way families and educators connect. OWNA streamlines enrolments, communication, billing, and updates about learning and care, creating a seamless experience for everyone involved. More importantly, it allows educators to spend more time engaging with children and supporting their growth each day.
Behind the scenes, we have refined our team structures to ensure that support is positioned to support our day-to-day operations. This year saw the introduction of Family Liaison and Administration Officers, who provide hands-on support for families across all centres. We also started to introduce Room Leaders in every room across our Early Education centres, ensuring leadership and consistency in our programs. The addition of a second Assistant Director in our larger centres has further expanded the capacity for mentoring and collaboration among teams. To guide our network of Out of School Hours (OOSH) services, we welcomed a new Head of OOSH, bringing new energy and vision to this important function of St Nicholas.
Each of these initiatives reflects our belief that great outcomes for children start with great support for the people who care for them. We have invested in our systems, staffing and professional growth so that St Nicholas can flourish.
As we turn our attention to 2026, we do so with genuine excitement. Plans are already underway for new projects and initiatives designed to further enhance the experience of families, children and educators. The year ahead will see us continue to grow and deepen our connections with the communities we serve.
Read the full year in review for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle here.
