10 Years of St Nicholas Supporting children, families, and communities across the Diocese since 2016
stnicks.org.au
St Nicholas Early Education Chisholm Construction 2017
St Nicholas Early Education Newcastle West 2017
St Nicholas Early Education Singleton Blessing 2016
St Nicholas Early Education Cardiff Construction 2017
St Nicholas Early Education Newcastle West Construction 2016
10 Years of St Nicholas For 10 years, St Nicholas has supported children, families, and communities across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. What began in 2016 with two Early Education centres has grown into a network of Early Education centres, OOSH services, and Pathways programs, each shaped by a shared purpose: to provide high-quality, values-led education and care that helps children feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive. This milestone is not only a celebration of growth. It is a reflection of impact: the children given a strong start in life, the families supported through the moments that matter most, the educators who have helped shape young lives, and the communities strengthened along the way.
TIMELINE A DECADE OF MILESTONES
2020
New Early Education centres open in Branxton and Maitland New OOSH services open in Abermain, Adamstown, Belmont, Cardiff, Charlestown, East Maitland, Gateshead, Kilaben Bay, Lochinvar, Merewether Beach, Morisset, The Junction, and Warners Bay
2016
St Nicholas Early Education announced, named after St Nicholas of Myra – the Patron Saint of Children First Early Education centres open in Newcastle West and Singleton
2017
New Early Education centre opens in Cardiff
2018
New Early Education centres open in Chisholm and Lochinvar Lochinvar recognised at Kidsafe National Playspace Design Awards OOSH launches with inaugural services in Chisholm and Glendale
2019
St Nicholas Early Education Raymond Terrace opens New OOSH services open in Branxton, Forster, Kotara South, Maitland, Mayfield, New Lambton, Rutherford, Shortland, and Waratah Pathways launched First School-Based trainee
Newcastle West and Raymond Terrace Early Education centres expand – places increase from 52 to 92, and 70 to 110 respectively Medium Employer of the Year Finalist (NSW Training Awards)
2024 2023
New Early Education centre opens in Fletcher
2021
New Early New Early Education centres open in Gillieston Heights, Medowie, and Muswellbrook New OOSH services open in Edgeworth, Gloucester, Lambton, and Wallsend Chisholm Early Education centre expands – places increase from 77 to 134
‘Grow With Us’ partnership announced with Catholic Schools, offering a greater priority enrolment pathway and more connected transition to school experience for Early Education families
2022
Transition to School Support
100% green energy now utilised across all St Nicholas services New OOSH services open in Stockton and Taree
Priority Enrolment Advantage One Educational Entity Seamless Educational Pathway
Holistic Learning & Development
2025
St Nicholas successfully secures Australian Government’s Worker Retention Grant, seeing a 15% increase in educator wages
2026
New Early Education centres open in Forster and Kotara South Maitland Early Education expands with construction of dedicated Preschool Wing – places increase from 82 to 110
Across 10 years Since 2016, St Nicholas has grown in scale, reach, and impact, supporting children and families through millions of moments of care, learning, play, and connection.
44 SERVICE LOCATIONS
16,664 CHILDREN
12,872 FAMILIES
2,190 TEAM MEMBERS
supporting children and families across the Diocese
supported to learn, grow and thrive since 2016
supported through important moments of family life since 2016
employed to support children and families since 2016
11,000 SOCIAL COMMUNITY
OUR IMPACT IN NUMBERS
in 2026
8.3 MILLION CARE SESSIONS DELIVERED across Early Education and OOSH since 2016
750,000 WEBSITE VISITORS since 2016
485 TRAINEES supported to begin their careers in early childhood education and care since 2016
97% SERVICES RATED MEETING OR EXCEEDING the National Quality Standard
98% COMPLIANCE with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards
14 CENTRES
8 CENTRES
1,500 LICENSED PLACES
1,721 CHILDREN
operating today
co-located with Catholic Schools
per day in 2026
transitioned to Catholic Schools since 2016
8.9 MILLION
2.2 MILLION CARE SESSIONS DELIVERED
6,181 CHILDREN SUPPORTED
meals provided since 2016
since 2016
since 2016
4,669 FAMILIES SUPPORTED
1,264 EDUCATORS EMPLOYED
since 2016
since 2016
100% OF CENTRES now powered by green energy
ST NICHOLAS EARLY EDUCATION EARLY EDUCATION AND CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED BIRTH TO FIVE Launched in 2016 with centres in Newcastle West and Singleton, St Nicholas Early Education now operates 14 centres across the Diocese, including 8 centres co-located with Catholic Schools. Over the past 10 years, St Nicholas Early Education has supported more than 6,100 children and more than 4,600 families, delivering more than 2.2 million care sessions. Today, our centres continue to provide safe, nurturing and high-quality learning environments where children are supported to belong, become and thrive.
30 SERVICES
100%
6.1 MILLION
operating today
of services located onsite at Catholic Schools
care sessions delivered since 2016
8,203 FAMILIES SUPPORTED since 2016
10,483 CHILDREN SUPPORTED since 2016
100% SERVICES RATED MEETING OR EXCEEDING
926 EDUCATORS EMPLOYED
the National Quality Standard
since 2016
ST NICHOLAS OOSH BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE AND VACATION CARE FOR CHILDREN AGED 5-12 Launched in 2018, St Nicholas OOSH has grown from two inaugural services to 30 services, all located onsite at Catholic primary schools. Across before school care, after school care, and vacation care, OOSH provides children with safe, engaging, and supportive environments where they can connect, play, and grow.
ST NICHOLAS PATHWAYS GROWING THE NEXT GENERATION OF EDUCATORS
St Nicholas Pathways School-based Trainees 2020
Launched in 2019, St Nicholas Pathways supports people to begin and develop careers in early childhood education and care through school-based and work-based traineeships. Over the past decade, Pathways has supported 485 trainees, helping strengthen the future workforce while creating meaningful career opportunities across the Diocese.
242 SCHOOL-BASED TRAINEES SUPPORTED
243 WORK-BASED TRAINEES SUPPORTED
St Nicholas Pathways Launch 2019
95% SERVICES RATED MEETING OR EXCEEDING the National Quality Standard
98% COMPLIANCE with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards
QUALITY, SAFETY & TRUST DELIVERING CARE FAMILIES CAN TRUST For St Nicholas, growth has never been about scale alone. It has been about growing with quality, safety, and trust at the centre. Across Early Education and OOSH, family feedback continues to show strong confidence in the quality of education and care, educator warmth and professionalism, and the values-led approach that shapes St Nicholas services.
9 IN 10
9 IN 10
families rate education and care as good or excellent
families rate educator warmth and professionalism highly
9 IN 10
90% ONLINE REVIEWS 5 STARS
families agree St Nicholas reflects their family’s values
across Early Education and OOSH
THE NEXT 10 YEARS STRENGTHENING OUR FOUNDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE Over the next decade, St Nicholas will continue to grow as a faith-filled, values-led community, strengthening the foundations that enable children to thrive and families to feel confident in the education and care they receive. Our focus will be on:
PROTECTING
ELEVATING
INVESTING
BUILDING TRUST
children through strong safeguarding practices that place their safety, wellbeing and rights at the centre of every decision
the quality of education and care so every child can learn, develop and realise their potential
educators and leaders through professional learning, meaningful support and opportunities to grow
with families through clear communication, consistent service and accountable practice
LIVING OUR VALUES bringing our Catholic identity to life through compassion, service and respect for the dignity of every person
The past 10 years have shown what is possible when education, care, and community come together. The next 10 years will build on that foundation, keeping children’s safety, learning, wellbeing and potential at the heart of everything we do.
The past 10 years have shown what is possible when
St Nicholas Early Education Gilleston Heights Construction 2020
St Nicholas Early Education Muswellbrook Construction 2020
St Nicholas Early Education Lochinvar Blessing 2018
St Nicholas Early Education Lochinvar Blessing 2018
St Nicholas Early Education Chisholm Blessing 2018