As a parent you’re always a bit nervous about your little one, but the team have been nothing less than exceptional! She absolutely loves her time at Mother Duck.

Matthew - Parent 

From day one I always felt like my little girl was receiving the best possible care at Mother Duck Gaythorne. All of the educators are warm, kind and caring.

It has been amazing to watch my little girl grow from a baby to a little person through the different stages of early learning and to see the special bonds she has developed with so many of the educators and other kids. She learns so many new things that I wouldn’t even think to teach her and her independence has been encouraged from an early age. I love that her little personality is nurtured and that she is in a safe space to explore and learn in preparation for school. 

I look forward to seeing how my new little Bub grows at Mother Duck next year and wouldn’t consider anywhere else! Thank you to all of the amazing educators who make our life so much easier and take such excellent care of our little one when we aren’t available.

Sandra - Parent

We're so happy with the community of Mother Duck for our little man. He celebrates before coming in the mornings - and is so busy playing in the afternoon he'll often not notice I'm there. The team of educators in his room clearly adore the kids and have wonderful little observations about his day and developments to tell me about at pickup. 

We especially love the centre's emphasis on helping the kids to be autonomous - we are constantly surprised at how able Brody is, how proud he is to help with chores or clean up his plate after meals, through the skills he has learned at Mother Duck. And the mixed age approach in his Studio has taught him so much empathy towards others.

Jessica - Parent

• Environments Carefully Created for Children

• Care and Attention for Each Individual Child

• Play-Based Learning to Prepare Each Child for Success

• Strong Relationships With Families to Create Communities

• Welcoming Centres Where Diversity is Celebrated

• Caring Educators Who Love Coming to Work

• Sports program
• Music program
• School readiness program
• Incursions with the local library (Kindergarten Children)

In the Infant studio, the educators follow a flexible schedule that is responsive to the needs of the individual child. Parents are encouraged to share their home routine with the educators, as they understand how important routine can be to children of this age.

Educators work to form a secure attachment with the children, as well as building relationships with the families. Parents receive a daily log from the educators which covers their child’s feeding, sleeping and toileting patterns.

The focus for the children is on those basic first skills such as sitting, crawling and walking. Educators seek to develop language skills of the children with conversation, singing and reading.

Miss Mel - Nominated Supervisor and Franchisee

Miss Mel began her Childcare career in 2000 and joined the Mother Duck Team in 2016. Miss Mel ensures to provide a home away from home for children, families and educators. Miss Mel completed her Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services in 2009.

Miss Sonia - Nominated Supervisor

Miss Sonia has been a part of Mother Duck since 2017 and joined the Gaythorne Leadership team in 2024.

Miss Sonia builds strong relationships not only within the service but also with the wider community.

Miss Sonia completed her Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in 2021.

Miss Therese - Pedagogical Coordinator

Miss Therese started in Early Childhood more than 16 years ago, 8 years of which have been with Mother Duck Gaythorne.

Miss Therese builds strong relationships with children, families, and educators.

Miss Therese completed her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2017.

Along with the Leadership Team, we have several educators who have been with Mother Duck for many years. 

Mother Duck’s own dietitian, Fiona Hinton, prepares the menus for the centre and has over 20 years of experience. Fiona specialises in real-life strategies and practical suggestions to convert nutrition advice into food kids will eat. Fiona has collaborated on several books, including one with best-selling children’s food writer Annabel Karmel, as well as training childcare staff in children’s nutrition.

At Mother Duck Gaythorne, the children play a role in ordering the food each week, often sharing their opinions on what fruit and vegetables should be on offer. The children are also responsible for collecting the food from the kitchen and bringing it to their studio for each meal time.

Each studio has a dining area where the children eat all of their meals. The mealtimes are progressive allowing the children to decide when they are hungry. The children also serve their own meals, wash their dishes and assist with the set up and cleanup of the space.