About Figtree
Who we are
A Warm, Inclusive Community for Children and Families
Figtree Early Learning Centre is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for children aged 0-5 years. Located in Croydon, our purpose-built centre features expansive outdoor areas and is supported by a passionate team of experienced Educators committed to fostering growth, development, and a lifelong love of learning.
How We can help you
Programs That Foster Growth and Exploration
Play-Based Learning
Inspiring creativity, independence, and discovery.
School Readiness
Child-led experiences that prepare children for primary school.
Inclusive Approach
Supporting children of all abilities in a safe environment.
Stimulating Activities
Opportunities for exploration beyond the classroom.
Emergent Curriculum
Guided by the Early Years Learning Framework.
Our Approach
Guided by Play, Inspired by Possibility
As a not-for-profit centre, every decision we make is focused on delivering the best outcomes for your child. Our emergent, play-based curriculum is guided by the Early Years Learning Framework, ensuring that children are engaged in meaningful, developmentally appropriate experiences from birth to five years.
We believe that children thrive when supported by caring Educators, enriching programs, and strong family partnerships. Our extracurricular activities, tailored to all age groups, inspire creativity, independence, and confidence while preparing children for their next big steps.
What we offer
Why Families Choose Figtree
We understand that each child has their own interests and needs, which is why we create experiences that are tailored to their age group, allowing them to explore and discover in a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment.
No charge for Public Holidays.
Brand-new facilities.
Expansive outdoor areas.
Experienced and passionate Educators.
Safe, inclusive environment for children of all abilities.
Nutritionally sound meals included daily.
Flexible hours: 7:30am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.
Extra-curricular activities for all age groups.
On-site parking for convenient drop-offs and pick-ups.
The Team
Meet our Educators
Our team of educators provide a stimulating, educational, and enjoyable environment to help children, of all abilities, reach their full potential. We believe that each child should have the opportunity to explore, create, and grow in a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment.
Rachel
Eva
Karen
Carmela
Aliza
Nam
Samrata
Theresa
Careers
Work With Us
We’re looking for new team members to join Figtree Early Learning Centre, Croydon!
As a community-based organisation, we are not only committed to delivering great services that make a real difference in the lives of children and young people, but we realise that exceptional staff are the key to making this possible.
Service Philoshy
At Figtree We Acknowledge…
that the first 5 years of a child’s life are fundamental to their social, emotional, cognitive, physical, communicative and creative development. We also believe positive early experiences lay a solid foundation for each child’s holistic development and therefore we adopt the following principles to guide our program, environment and relationships.
Underlying these principles and practices in addition to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Framework (NQF) is the understanding of the need to promote children’s independence. Their ability to work cooperatively with peers and adults in small or large group experiences while respecting diverse cultures, abilities and identities is also highly valued within the service.
Testimonial
The Difference We Make!
A Journey of Hope & Belonging
Our family’s journey with St Anthony’s Family Care has been nothing short of transformative. Before my son, Te Ahurei started at Figtree Early Learning Centre (Figtree), I worked as a support worker and then as a disability services coordinator for St Anthony’s Family Care.
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It was a fulfilling experience, and I was able to see firsthand the difference we made in the lives of families. When I left to pursue my lifelong passion of teaching, I never imagined I would one day return, not as an employee, but as a parent in need of support.
At the age of two, Te Ahurei was diagnosed with Autism Level 3. Our challenges started when we enrolled Te Ahurei at a daycare close to home. Unfortunately, the experience was far from what we’d hoped for. Educators labelled him “lazy” simply because he was non-verbal. Communication was non-existent, and I was often left feeling anxious, not knowing how his day had gone. With no community network to lean on, we relied heavily on daycare for support, and it was failing us.
From day one, the staff went above and beyond. They asked countless questions to understand Te Ahurei and his needs. This wasn’t just a daycare, it was a team of people truly dedicated to knowing my son and supporting our family. The communication was remarkable. Daily updates, feedback, and insights into his progress brought a sense of reassurance we had never experienced before.
A conversation with my partner James changed everything and we considered bringing our son to Figtree. Walking into the beautiful facility, I had mixed feelings – impressed by the facility, but wary that it might be overcompensating for something deeper. However, my fears were quickly put to rest. For the first time as parents, we felt truly supported. Te Ahurei was thriving – loved, cared for, and safe. Watching him use a spoon for the first time and try different foods was a moment of pure joy. His interactions with other children were heartwarming. Videos of him hugging and playing with his peers are memories I will cherish forever.
When our younger child, Ki Te Rangi started, I was anxious about the transition as she was only five months old. But once again, the team at Figtree exceeded every expectation. Their genuine care and dedication made all the difference. One of my favourite moments was during Ki Te Rangi’s orientation visit. Educators excitedly showed me how Te Ahurei was making friends – a milestone I never thought I’d witness so soon. Both my children can now recognise the trip to daycare during car rides and light up with excitement.
Te Ahurei currently attends occupational therapy, speech therapy, swimming lessons, and meets with a dietician. The support he receives at Figtree compliments these services beautifully, fostering his development and relationships. As someone who once worked at St Anthony’s Family Care, I know how hard it is to make a real difference. Now, as a parent receiving these services, I can say with confidence that St Anthony’s Family Care is second to none. Sending my children here was the best decision I have ever made, and I will always be grateful for the care and community that we have found.
– Arahia
(Te Ahurei's Mother)
Hugo’s Starting To Thrive
Our St Anthony’s Family Care Journey has just begun, but already it has become a beacon of support and warmth for our son Hugo. The community has embraced us wholeheartedly, providing a nurturing environment that we know is perfect for Hugo.
It’s been a life changer for our family.
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At the start of 2023, Hugo began attending Figtree Early Learning Centre based on numerous glowing recommendations regarding its exceptional support for children with additional needs. The decision came after we noticed Hugo struggling to meet developmental milestones compared to his peers.
We sought help from physiotherapists and chiropractors when he was just nine months old, receiving exercises to aid his development. However, it was not until Hugo turned one and underwent assessment at an early diagnosis clinic that we received the devastating news: he had mild to moderate spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy.
We were advised that this was something that would affect Hugo for the rest of his life and would require extensive therapy on an ongoing basis. This news was extremely devastating for my partner and I as this was something we never expected. We were worried that without help we wouldn’t be able to give Hugo the full scope of care he needed to get the best start in life.
We’d heard so many horror stories about families enrolling their children into centres ill-equipped to support children with special needs. So we were determined to find an inclusive, secure, and reliable daycare for Hugo.
Following Hugo’s diagnosis in March 2023, the team at Figtree stood by us every step of the way, adapting their care to align with Hugo’s condition and evolving routine. He now undergoes physiotherapy twice weekly and occupational and speech therapy once a week.
We still have a long road ahead of us, but despite his challenges he is a curious and resilient child. Nothing stops him from wanting to learn and we couldn’t be more proud. His gross motor skills have shown remarkable improvement, as he can now transition from lying down to kneeling up! Our current focus is on enhancing his ability to stand and walk with the assistance of a walker.
Our time at Figtree has already yielded significant progress. Hugo’s fine motor skills have flourished, bringing him on par with peers his age. The staff at Figtree are not only welcoming and supportive but also receptive to feedback, providing us with regular, insightful updates on Hugo’s progress.
Their eagerness to learn new techniques and strategies to aid Hugo’s development reassures us that he is in capable hands.
Since joining Figtree, Hugo has expanded his vocabulary and eagerly anticipates daycare. Hugo is always excited to see his daycare friends and get warm hugs from his favourite educators. His love for learning shines through activities like painting, playing in the sandpit, and singing.
– Anna
(Hugo’s Mum)
Embracing Inclusion At Figtree Early Learning Centre, Croydon
Ensuring the meaningful inclusion of children at Figtree Early Learning Centre is not just a social and moral responsibility; it is also an adventure of discovery, laughter, and growth that we have been on for the last 12 years.
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At Figtree, we believe that every child has the right to be a significant part of their community. What better way to support their journey than through the vibrant, fun, and exciting programs offered at Figtree? Our programs are developed and implemented by the dedicated team of educators at Figtree and aim to support children’s communication, self-help skills and the development of their social interactions alongside peers. Friendships flourish in an environment that encourages collaboration, empathy, and a joy of shared experiences.
In addition to providing care to typically developing children, Figtree also provides specialised support for children with disabilities and developmental delays. Children attending the service have a range of disabilities that include Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delays as well as vision and hearing impairments.
For all children, the team imagine an education and care experience that goes beyond traditional boundaries. Partnerships with families and other early intervention professionals are not just encouraged but celebrated to ensure the best outcomes for the children at the service as we collaborate to curate programs with the feedback of all stakeholders, always ensuring the child is at the centre.
The team of educators at Figtree strive to make sure that our centre is a place that sees each and every child as a unique individual, with a voice that deserves to be heard and ideas that deserve to be explored based on their interests and their evolving needs.
In this thriving early childhood education and care space, a sense of belonging isn’t just a concept; it’s a daily reality, where staff ensure a warm embrace that tells every child, “You are an essential thread in the tapestry of our village.”
Within the new St Anthony’s Family Care village, our purpose-built childcare centre, has been built with every nook and cranny designed to inspire wonder and curiosity for all children. The expansive outdoor area is not just a space to run and play; it is a canvas for imagination and discovery. Key when supporting children with a range of diverse needs.
At Figtree, children are provided with the opportunity to climb structures, discover the joy of the natural environment and spark creativity at every turn. In this village, peers become partners in the grand adventure of childhood.
What truly sets Figtree Early Learning Centre apart is the team of committed staff who believe wholeheartedly in the boundless abilities of all children. These are not just caregivers; they are mentors, cheerleaders, and guides on the exciting journey of learning and self-discovery.
The magic lies in the belief that when we support the inclusion of every child, we’re not just building a village; we’re crafting a world where diversity is celebrated, and every child’s unique light shines brightly.
We are on a mission to create a world where every child not only belongs but thrives, and where the journey of inclusion is as thrilling as the destination itself.
Regards,
Teresa Petrone
Executive Manager Early Learning Services
A Village Full of Heart
Our story at St Anthony’s Family Care (SAFC) first began in May 2020 when our first child, Isabella, was 18 months old and started attending Figtree Early Learning Centre. It was at the height of the COVID pandemic and while this was an overwhelming time within the world, the SAFC village and team at Figtree helped create a sense of safety and security within the community we were joining.
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Shortly after joining St Anthony’s, in June of 2020, we found out that our second child would be born not only with Down Syndrome, but also with a significant congenital heart defect. When we arrived at the ultrasound appointment the technicians were very quiet as they looked at the scan. My husband and I knew they were going to say that the scan had shown that something was not as it should be, and we prepared ourselves. A Genetic Counsellor took us to a private room and explained that the scan, not only showed a high nuchal fold (thickness at the back of the baby’s neck), a small baby for his age and other markers for Down Syndrome, but our baby also had at least two holes in his heart.
We were advised that since we were seeing this at such an early stage of pregnancy (11 weeks), the baby was likely to have other health problems too. We were presented with a long list of statistical medical conditions that are more common in people with Down Syndrome and were told that our baby had a 1 in 3 chance of miscarriage or stillbirth. If by some miracle, our baby did survive the birth, there was a good chance he wouldn’t live very long and would likely need immediate surgery to try and repair the damage to his heart.
To say that we were filled with grief and sadness is an understatement, but we decided to proceed with the pregnancy wondering what this would mean for our family.
When our son was finally born in December 2020, we named him Theodore which means “Gift from God”. Teddy, as we affectionately call him, was truly our little miracle but the challenges of having a son with Down Syndrome were only starting.
At a scan when Teddy was two months old, we found out things were much worse with his heart than first thought. It was at this time that the support and well wishes from the SAFC community really helped our family. The Figtree staff were quick to offer additional days of care for Isabella, so she could continue to thrive and develop alongside her friends with a sense of security and routine, while we took the extra time needed to care for Teddy.
SAFC was also kind enough to cover the fees during this time, through their Mary MacKillop Canonisation Fund, which significantly helped our family financially at this time.
Following successful heart surgery in April 2021 we were able to start making longer term plans for Teddy. The one decision we never had to struggle with as a family was where Teddy would go for childcare. From the minute we knew our son had Down Syndrome, we began speaking to the team at Figtree and were always reassured that Teddy would not only be welcomed with open arms, but also fully included in the programs offered at the centre. Something I have since discovered isn’t necessarily true for many other families who continue to face barriers in accessing inclusive early childhood education for their child with a disability.
Since starting at Figtree in January 2023, the staff at Figtree Early Learning Centre have been magnificent. To assist Teddy with communication, the staff are now learning Auslan (sign language) so Teddy can make his wants and needs understood.
The team have also taken the time to meet on many occasions to help ensure the learning environment offers Teddy everything he needs to flourish.
Teddy loves spending time with his peers and excitedly falls out of my arms and into the welcoming hugs of the Educators each day he attends.
As we plan for Teddy’s future, we look forward to a partnership with the SAFC community as we help our son learn to take his first steps, communicate effectively, feed himself and continue developing relationships with his peers and carers.
We sincerely thank the SAFC and Figtree community for their ongoing support and look forward to a bright and happy future for both our children and whole heartily agree with the SAFC tagline ‘it takes a village to raise a child’.
– Louise Burke
(Teddy and Isabella’s Mum)
Peers & Play
St Anthony’s Family Care (SAFC) has been a vital part of the community for over 70 years and the childcare centre has been it’s longest running service. While programs may have changed to better meet community needs, SAFC’s commitment to supporting children and families has been unwavering and remains core to our mission.
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In 1974, St Anthony’s began providing childcare services to families living in Croydon and the surrounding suburbs. Children of parents needing relief were welcomed, with first priority going to poorer families who needed the additional support offered by the Sisters of St Joseph.
By 1979, St Anthony’s Home had obtained a licence to operate a childcare centre and services formally began.
After many years of service and following feedback from the community and parents, an inclusive early childhood service began in 2007 when the Special Preschool and the mainstream childcare centre were merged.
Over the past 15 years, the Early Learning Centre has evolved and continues to work towards providing programs that acknowledge each child’s strengths while also helping to support the development of new skills, particularly where children have a diagnosed disability or developmental delay. This support is provided through the ‘Peers & Play’ program.
The Peers & Play program helps to ensure that children receive the additional support they require so they can actively participate within the mainstream care environment and learn alongside their typically developing peers.
This year Figtree Early Learning Centre has been delighted to welcome back the Ahmed family. In
2017, SAFC first met Lana Ahmed who had been referred to St Anthony’s after it became clear that she was not reaching her developmental milestone and required the additional supports provided at St Anthony’s.
Lana had been diagnosed with a Global Developmental Delay (GDD), and in partnerships with her family and other allied health professions, work began to help strengthen Lana’s motor skills, communication, and self-help skills.
During the 3 years that Lana was part of the Peers & Play program she was able to make significant progress as she developed the ability to feed herself independently, began walking and was able to communicate choices with support. St Anthony’s was also key in helping to ensure Lana was able to experience a positive transition to school so that her education could continue as she moved to kindergarten.
When the Ahmed family recently discovered that their son, Mustafa, also needs additional support, they knew exactly where to go to find the help needed. Mustafa’s mum contacted the Manager of Figtree Early Learning Centre and enrolled her son.
Now within our brand-new state of the art childcare centre, the Figtree team is working in partnership with Mustafa’s family to support him to achieve his individual goals while at the same time having the opportunity to make those important connections with children his age.
For many parents, Figtree Early Learning Centre is the preferred service as families have confidence that programs offered can meet the needs of their child through dedicated educators working in partnership with families.
St Anthony’s and Figtree are proud of both our achievements to date and our commitment to the ongoing support of children with disabilities as they participate in the Peers & Play program.
This program is only possible due to the support of our donors and benefactors as the cost of the additional staff required to meet the individual needs of children is met through your generous
contributions.
Regards,
Teresa Petrone
Big Strides For Little Feet
Hi, my name is Elpida and I’d like to share my story with you.
When you have a baby, your mind takes you on a journey. Immediately you start to think about what your child’s life has in store for them and how you, as a parent, can help to ensure that your children have every opportunity in life.
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In January 2018, my husband and I along with our daughter, Olympia, who was 4 at the time, welcomed our twins Dimitri and Marissa to the world. Our small family of three, instantly became a big family of five. Having twins was a challenge on its own, but we were so excited to be growing our family, that we took this new adventure in our stride.
We watched as Dimitri and Marissa grew together, but as they are twins, we soon realised that Dimitri was not achieving his developmental milestones quite as quickly as Marissa. Wanting to help our son we started seeking support services and made an appointment to see a Developmental Paediatrician. In October 2019, Dimitri was diagnosed as having a Global Developmental Delay (GDD) and so began our visits to Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists and Speech Pathologists, all in an effort to help Dimitri work towards his developmental milestones. My mind began to race, what would his life be like? How could I help to ensure my son was able to achieve his goals and be a happy little boy?
After a year of therapies, Dimitri was making some progress, however we knew that with the twins soon turning 3, it was time to start looking for a childcare centre. We knew that with Dimitri’s special needs we required a service that was able to provide some targeted early intervention for Dimitri but was also able to provide the inclusion we wanted so Marissa was also able to attend the same centre. Luckily, we already knew about St Anthony’s Family Care and as it turned out, they had just opened their fabulous new purpose-built Early Learning Centre, Figtree.
Any parent gets a little nervous about sending their children to childcare but knowing that Dimitri had low muscle tone, delayed speech and experienced strong separation anxiety, this made me worry just a little bit more. I first met with Teresa, the Service Manager at Figtree in late 2020 and we decided to start the enrolment in February 2021.
Prior to the twins commencing, we attended a number of orientation sessions. While in the past Dimitri had been very nervous about being just a few metres away from me, I was delighted to see that when we walked into the outdoor play space of Figtree, Dimitri was enthralled by the Figtree Jungle. He was so excited to be exploring the water features, sand pit and animals that he soon forgot that I was even there. My son was playing independently and was focused on discovering what wonders were to be found in the Figtree outdoor play space. These orientation sessions helped fill me with great comfort and joy and I was now sure that I had found the right place for my children.
Ten weeks later and we have all been able to see the change in Dimitri and it has been amazing. He confidently walks into Figtree each morning and is so warmly welcomed by the staff that I feel Figtree has become an extension of our home. When I say goodbye to my son, I hear … ‘goodbye mummy’, words I had never heard before. The team of therapists who work with Dimitri have also noticed a huge difference over the last months and we are now all confidently looking forward to a bright future for our family. We are so happy to be part of Figtree Early Learning Centre and the St Anthony’s Family Care community and look forward to what new and wonderful things await.
– Elpida
St Anthony’s commitment to supporting children with disabilities to participate at Figtree is only possible due to the support of our donors and benefactors. The cost of the additional staff required to meet the individual needs of children is met through your generous contributions and we thank you for your ongoing support.
Teresa Petrone
Manager, Early Learning Service