September Newsletter - ED update
Yuma everyone,
As spring begins to show itself, I wanted to pause and reflect on a full and meaningful quarter for NBCA, one that has brought moments of real celebration, steady progress behind the scenes, and important steps toward our future.
Governance and transition
On 29 July, members came together for a Special General Meeting and supported NBCA’s transition to a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee, including the adoption of our new name, Tillerra Early Learning Services Limited. It is a significant milestone and one that reflects a lot of careful work over many months.
The final logo, adopted at the Special General Meeting, was shaped through significant consultation with staff and with the children in our centres. It is a lovely marker of the next stage of our identity, one that has been informed by the people, and the children, at the heart of NBCA. We look forward to sharing more about the design and name elements over the coming months to illustrate what a collaborative journey this has been for us.
As we look toward NBCA’s 50th birthday in 2027, this transition is also a chance to honour where we have come from while preparing thoughtfully for the future.
Strategic Plan, Quarter 3 snapshot
Across July, August and September, we have seen progress in our centres and continued investment in the people, systems and practices that support our work with children and families:
Excel in our Centres
A standout moment this quarter was Flynn’s Assessment and Rating outcome, with the service achieving an overall rating of Exceeding the National Quality Standard. This is a significant achievement and a wonderful recognition of the Flynn team’s professionalism, care and strong everyday practice. The team took time to celebrate the result together, and rightly so. We also took time to recognise Early Childhood Educators' Day, celebrating the unique contribution each educator makes every day.
All staff have also completed the National Child Safety Foundation Training, strengthening our shared understanding of how we keep children safe, respected and supported.
Families will also have seen important upgrades underway to our security system, another practical investment in keeping children safe and supporting safe, well-managed centres.
We have also worked through a busy period of regulatory and assurance activity. While much of this happens behind the scenes, it is an important part of how we learn, test our systems and keep improving, closely connected to our commitment to lifelong learning.
Engage with our Community
Across our centres, there have also been many moments of connection and celebration with children and families, from NAIDOC Week learning and cultural experiences, Father’s Day and Early Childhood Educators’ Day, through to Flynn welcoming Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith to see the Three-Year-Old Preschool Initiative in action. Programs and partnerships such as myOT also continue to support children’s development and remind us of the importance of strong relationships around each child.
We are also continuing to work closely with the ACT Government through Infrastructure Canberra as we remain in our spaces at Flynn and Cooinda. The new lease arrangements provide welcome stability for our services and help us keep investing in environments where children, families and educators can feel safe, connected and supported.
We are also proud to continue our connection with Karinya House and the Walk for Hope, which is such a meaningful expression of community, care and practical support for women, babies and families. Partnerships like this remind us that our work sits within a much wider community of people and organisations committed to helping children and families thrive.
Elevate our Organisation
Following Flynn’s presentation at the ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Symposium, we have continued to see interest in how our centres share practice, learn from others and build connections beyond NBCA. Belconnen High School visited Cooinda to learn more about the centre’s use of Indigenous ingredients in its menu, while Flynn joined Connections High School for its open day. These opportunities for cross-collaboration and sharing help keep our practice open, reflective and connected to the wider early childhood and education community.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, we will continue preparing for the transition to Tillerra Early Learning Services Limited and look forward to sharing our Annual Report later in the year, with a fuller picture of the progress, learning and achievements across both centres and the organisation.
To our staff, families, members and Management Committee, thank you. Your care, patience and energy remain at the heart of what we do.
Jocelyn Cronin
Executive Director
