Goodstart Early Learning Warrnambool

We at Goodstart Warrnambool would like to share some very sad news.

Our wonderful colleague, our work mum, our friend and our Centre Director of 22 years, Dianah, has sadly lost her battle with cancer.

For 22 years, Dianah steered the ship at Goodstart Warrnambool and was loved by so many. We pride ourselves on being a family at Goodstart Warrnambool, and Dianah was a huge part of building that foundation and creating the culture we have today.

Anyone who has had the privilege of working with Dianah over the years will know what a force she was. She was an incredible leader : strong, passionate, caring and always leading from the front.

Dianah was strong and brave right until the very end, and her impact will be felt throughout our centre for many years to come.

We are heartbroken to have lost such a special person, colleague, leader and friend.

Rest peacefully, Dianah.
Thank you for 22 incredible years. You will be deeply missed and forever a part of the Goodstart Warrnambool family. ❤️

Strong relationships are the foundation for confident, curious learners 💛

Goodstart’s key educator approach ensures every child is known, supported and feels safe - through consistent, nurturing connections with educators and meaningful partnerships with families. These bonds help build wellbeing, resilience and a true sense of belonging from day one.

Discover how this approach supports your child’s learning journey: https://brnw.ch/2

Did you know we invested $65.5M into our social purpose last year, a 14% increase on the year before? 👏 At Goodstart, we're proud of the impact we have on children, families and communities. As a not‑for‑profit, every dollar we earn is reinvested to improve outcomes – from high‑quality learning and educator development to extra support for children who need it most.
Because when we put children first, the impact goes further 💛

The research is clear 📚 reading aloud is one of the most powerful things we can do for our children.

When we read with a child, we’re doing far more than sharing a story. We’re building the foundations for language, confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love of learning.

Decades of research shows that children who are read to regularly:

💛 Build stronger language skills
Hearing rich varied language in books exposes children to far more words than everyday conversation alone. This growing vocabulary helps them understand, communicate and make sense of the world.

💛 Develop early literacy skills long before they learn to read
Through stories, children learn how books work – that print carries meaning, that pages turn left to right, and that stories have a beginning, middle and end. These early understandings make learning to read feel familiar and exciting.

💛 Strengthen phonological awareness
Rhymes, rhythms and playful sounds help children hear the building blocks of language.

💛 Grow their comprehension and thinking skills
Talking together about a story, predicting what might happen, wondering how a character feels, and connecting events to real life helps children develop memory, problem-solving, and higher-order thinking.

💛 Experience connection, comfort and joy
Shared reading fosters calmness, closeness, and moments of joint attention. These warm interactions support a child's sense of security and belonging.

Most importantly, children who experience positive, engaging reading moments from a young age are more likely to develop a genuine love of books - something that matters even more than early literacy skills alone.

Reading is simple, joyful, and sets children up for success in school and life.

Here is a list of some of our favourites below 👇

Congratulations to Tilly for achieving her Full Teachers Registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching!

In Victoria, teachers are provisionally registered for 2 years after graduating with their teaching degree. As part of their pathway to becoming a fully registered teacher, they are required to demonstrate that they meet all 7 Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the proficient level.

As you can imagine, much time and effort goes into the development of the necessary skills and knowledge to be considered a ‘proficient’ teacher.

We are very proud of the work you have done Tilly, to achieve your full registration.

Our children are only going to benefit from your passion and dedication to quality education.

Please join us in congratulating Tilly

🚒🔥 A big thank you to Fire Rescue Victoria Station 70 Warrnambool for visiting Goodstart Warrnambool! 🔥🚒

Our children had an exciting and educational experience learning all about fire safety and the important role firefighters play in keeping our community safe.

The firefighters demonstrated how they put on their protective gear and breathing apparatus while sharing valuable home safety messages with the children. The children then enjoyed sitting in the fire appliance, seeing equipment demonstrations and even having a turn holding the fire hose!

At Goodstart Warrnambool, our children have been focusing on building their understanding of safety and how to stay safe not only at daycare, but within the wider community as well. Experiences like these help children develop confidence and understanding, supporting them to feel safe and prepared during an emergency situation.

Thank you again to the crew from Fire Rescue Victoria Station 70 Warrnambool for taking the time to visit our centre and inspire our young learners.

🖤💛❤️ Celebrating NAIDOC Week 2026 at Goodstart Warrnambool ❤️💛🖤

This week, the children at Goodstart Warrnambool have been celebrating NAIDOC Week 2026 through music, stories and learning about local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

As a centre, we pride ourselves on building meaningful connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cultures. Children have also begun personalising their own leaf, which will come together to create a centre wreath symbolising our commitment to reconciliation and learning together.

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❤️Happy Canada Day! 🤍

Today we celebrated Canada Day with our wonderful Canadian educator, Megan! The children and educators dressed in red and white, enjoyed learning about Megan’s home country during group time, and finished the celebration with delicious pancakes and maple syrup.

We love celebrating the diverse cultures that make our Goodstart family so special!

15 Years of Danni 💜

Today we’re celebrating Danni and an incredible 15 years with Goodstart.

Over the years, Danni’s dedication and determination have made her such a valued part of our team and centre.

We’ve also had the privilege of watching all four of her children come along for the ride, making Goodstart a big part of her family’s journey too.

Thank you, Danni, for everything you do. We are so lucky to have you on our team.

Congratulations on 15 amazing years!

Earlier this month we celebrated 5 years of Brooke at Goodstart Warrnambool. Over the past 5 years Brooke has brought so much kindness and care to our centre.

Thank you, Brooke for the care and support you bring each day. We are so grateful to have you as part of our team! 🩷