The name "Kooinda" means "a happy place" in the local indigenous Awabakal language. Our focus is on ensuring we provide a happy, safe and accepting environment which reflects and enriches the lives and identities of the children and families that attend the centre. We recognise that families are children's first and most influential teachers and believe that learning outcomes are most likely to be achieved when educators and families work in partnership.

We believe that care and education are necessarily intertwined during early childhood and emphasise the importance of play-based learning within our program. We take a holistic approach to teaching and learning, recognising the physical, personal, social, cognitive, emotional and spiritual aspects of learning experiences and their connectedness. Educators value and build on children's interests, strengths, skills and knowledge to ensure their motivation and engagement in learning.

At Kooinda we give priority to nurturing genuine relationships and providing children with consistent emotional support in order to develop the skills and understandings they need to interact positively with others. We provide a mixed age environment to encourage relationships across different ages and further promote positive social dispositions, including empathy and a sensitivity towards others.

We are a work based service for employees and students of the University of Newcastle, however may offer some positions to community members.