02 6499 2222 council@begavalley.nsw.gov.au
Bega Valley Commemorative Civic Centre South East Centre for Contemporary Art (SECCA) Bega Valley Shire Library Sapphire Aquatic Centre Sapphire Coast Tourism
Have your say

The Shire's children in good hands at Bandara and Eden

A report card on Bandara Children’s Services in Bega and Eden Preschool has delivered top marks to Bega Valley Shire Council’s early childhood services.

Friday 22 April 2016 Bandara staff and the kids they care for and teach.

A report card on Bandara Children’s Services in Bega and Eden Preschool has delivered top marks to Bega Valley Shire Council’s early childhood services.

Eden Preschool has just received an ‘Exceeding Expectations’ rating under  the Federal Government’s Education and Care Services National Regulations, and Bandara’s draft accreditation results indicate that it is due to receive the same honour.

“Our educational program and practice, and our relationships with children, are two accreditation categories that have particularly come in for praise at both of these Centres,” said Kristina Brenner, Manager Children, Families and Ageing.

“This is a review process that all early childhood centres go through approximately every three years, and really highlights the dedication and passion that staff have for the children and families they work with,” Ms Brenner said.

Some of the comments in the assessor’s reports for the Centres included:

  • Strong links with and involvement in the local Aboriginal community
  • Educators consistently respond to children's ideas and are thoughtful in their decisions and planning for children
  • Educators promote each child's health by showing an awareness of individual needs and maintaining current information to support medical conditions.
  • Educators consistently support children to manage their own behaviour, they implement positive strategies and by providing simple explanations, resulting in little conflict among children.
  • Educators consistently support children's dignity and rights

 “Parents and carers entrust us with their most precious people. Having an outside set of eyes come in and independently review what we do affirms the quality of the work we do,” Ms Brenner said.

The regulations and framework that childcare providers operate in aims to raise quality and drive continuous improvement and consistency in services across the country.

The top marks for Bandara and Eden come on the back of the ‘Exceeding Expectations’ rating awarded to a number of non-profit early childhood services in the Bega Valley Shire in recent months, such as Pambula Preschool.

“These results are a testament to the quality of so many early childhood services across the Bega Valley Shire,”

“I also want to pay tribute to the educators and other support staff who work in these centres. These are special people who carry their work with them in their heart and constantly work for the best outcomes for children and families,” Ms Brenner said.

Photograph:  Bandara staff and the kids they care for and teach.

(Adults from left to right, back row) Barbara Dockery, Emma Backhouse, Melissa Crowe, Maureen Ingram, Sandy Gordon, Maree Tighe, Sandra Ahkin, Victoria Martinelli, Amanda Bradfield, Ann Howard. (Adults from left to right, front row) Kamila Grubesic and Alisha Abraham. Staff missing: Daryl Kelland, Rob Connal, Sarah Edmonds

END

Making an enquiry

All media enquiries and interview requests are coordinated by Council's Communication and Engagement team under the adopted Communications Policy. To view this policy, visit Public Policies and search 'communications'.

To submit a media enquiry or to request an interview:

Councillors

Councillors can be contacted directly for enquiries regarding decisions of the elected Council and non-operational matters. Interviews with the Mayor should be arranged through the Communication and Engagement team contact details above.

Receiving information

If you’re a journalist or media organisation that would like to receive media releases and notifications about media opportunities, please email your name, title and contact details to media@begavalley.nsw.gov.au and we will add you to our distribution list.

You can also subscribe to Bega Valley Together and Business News, Council's fortnightly e-newsletters, or follow @begavalleyshirecouncil on Facebook  and Instagram.

© Bega Valley Shire Council 2025

Our council websites

Contact Us

Follow us

Sign up for newsletters