Life at our Ooralea centre
Pets to care for, gardens to tend and a community to belong to. These everyday experiences build empathy, curiosity and confidence.
Our centre pets
Goldie and our friendly chickens
Goldie the therapy dog
We are fortunate to have our beautiful therapy dog, Goldie, who, along with her siblings, enjoys visiting the centre each day. Goldie brings joy, comfort and companionship to the children while supporting their social and emotional wellbeing.
Through these daily interactions, children learn about responsible pet ownership, including gentle handling, regular grooming, healthy nutrition, vaccinations and veterinary care.
Chickens with a job to do
Our friendly chickens are more than just pets. They play an active role in our sustainability program, and children help care for them by collecting food scraps for composting and recycling.
Along the way, children learn firsthand about reducing waste, caring for living things and the natural lifecycle.
Our centre pets enrich children's everyday experiences, encouraging curiosity, confidence, compassion and a lifelong respect for animals and the environment.
Sustainability
A thriving vegetable garden and habits that stick
Time outdoors from an early age helps children build respect for the environment and understand their part in caring for it.
Through hands-on experiences, children explore the relationships between people, plants, animals and the environment. Our educators model sustainable practices so children learn to care for the space around them.
Our centre features a thriving vegetable garden where children enjoy planting, nurturing, harvesting and learning about where food comes from.
Sustainability in action
- Caring for our vegetable gardens, plants and natural environments.
- Encouraging children to reduce waste by reusing and recycling materials.
- Using recycled and natural resources in creative arts, construction and play.
- Conserving water by turning taps off and emptying leftover water bottles onto our gardens.
- Promoting energy conservation by switching off lights and discussing how electricity is used.
- Caring for plants by watering them and watching them grow.
We also offer books, puzzles, natural materials and other resources that inspire curiosity and develop children's understanding of sustainability and the environment.
Our community
Connected to Mackay, beyond the front gate
Children develop a strong sense of belonging when they are actively connected to their local community.
Excursions and outings
Giving back
Visitors who share their world
Curious about the daily program behind these experiences? Read about learning and programs.
Come and meet the chickens
Tours are the easiest way to see the gardens, the playgrounds and the rooms your child would call their own.