The beginning of this year marked a pivotal moment for St Nicholas as we welcomed Fletcher Early Learning Centre and Montessori into our family. Our unwavering commitment to providing quality education persevered, ensuring that every child entrusted to us found a nurturing and stimulating environment in which to grow.
Recognising the invaluable contribution of our staff to our shared purpose at St Nicholas, we enhanced our employee benefits scheme. The St Nicholas childcare discount was elevated from 15% to an impressive 50%, offering our employees access to high-quality childcare services for their families. Additionally, we relaunched our Staff Referral Incentive program, now offering $1,000 (or $1,500 for eligible positions) to our staff who refer someone for a role at St Nicholas and that person is successful in securing a position. These improvements not only attract exceptional talent but cultivate a supportive work environment where our staff can thrive and flourish.
In 2023 we proudly celebrated a record intake of school-based trainees (SBATs), 63 enthusiastic individuals who embarked on a journey of learning and personal development as they commenced study of their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care whilst completing their HSC. Simultaneously, our Early Childhood Immersion program experienced almost triple the growth of the previous year, with 310 young minds immersing themselves in a simulated Early Childhood service environment. This expansion underscores our dedication to enriching the lives of as many young learners as possible, empowering them to embrace the world with open hearts and curious minds.
Our commitment to sustainability also took a significant leap forward this year with the transition of all St Nicholas sites to 100% green energy.
Fundamental to our achievements in 2023 are St Nicholas’ recently announced core values: Hope, Integrity, Justice,
Participation and Compassion. These values are more than words; they are the guiding principles that shape our community. Grounded in these values is our collective ‘Why’ statement, “We believe in supporting communities to flourish”. This encapsulates our mission, purpose and unwavering dedication to making a positive impact on the communities we serve as we embrace 2024.
