Hurstbridge Children’s Centre

Bonnie Wirawan, Centre Director at Hurstbridge Children’s Centre, applies our place-based approach to teaching and learning by fostering respect for the land we’re on, with a deep understanding of and commitment to Indigenous perspectives. Bonnie also applies that place-based lens to the Hurstbridge community, understanding their needs and incorporating that into the program. 
 
From one such need came Bonnie’s development of a Hurstbridge family handbook, specifically designed for their community. It came from conversations with families about Child Care Subsidy, which made her think about the multitude of information relating to starting early learning that families need to know: 

“It's too much to consume at the beginning when you're transitioning a child. It’s such a massive process for the family to go through.” 
 
Bonnie and the team brainstormed ideas, and as part of their close relationships with their learning community, went back to their families asking the question: “what do you wish you had known before your child started?” 
 
There were lots of seemingly small details that specifically related to children’s learning journey at Hurstbridge that Bonnie and her team were able to include. One example was the need to bring closed-toe, supportive footwear like gumboots for their Bush Kinder program. This was particularly relevant to where they are - Hurstbridge is located at the bottom of a valley and can experience very high and very low temperatures. 
 
The handbook gives very specific information about the Centre’s team, the rooms, their philosophy, the range of different styles they use to collect information regarding children’s learning and a really helpful explanation of classroom transitions, which require families, educators and the children to work collaboratively to make the best decisions of the ‘when’ and ‘why’. It also includes practical information about Child Care Subsidy, fees and funding, clothing and footwear. 
 
All of it was made possible by Bonnie and the team’s developed understanding of where they are – the unique characteristics of the Hurstbridge community. Some of these understandings changed Bonnie’s initial perceptions: 
 
“What has become incredibly apparent is the sheer amount of vulnerability that's here. We have an extensive amount of families that are at risk, and so being able to curate an early learning service that is aware of that, supportive of that and continues to collaborate with the available outsourcing supports has been really vital.” 
 
That awareness of place informing Bonnie’s approach at Hurstbridge, their programs, their family handbook, their encouragement for families to get involved, has resulted in a lovely response. Bonnie has never seen as much family participation before: 
 
“The turn out for our families knowing that they have a space to be, one where they belong and are supported, has been monumental.” 
 
Bonnie has observed in families that move to Hurstbridge and surrounding areas like Panton Hill and Diamond Creek, a yearning for a sense of community: 

“They want to be a part of something greater. And so we really foster that as much as we can.” 
 
Bonnie also encourages the free-spirited nature of many of their children, and it’s no coincidence that parents might find their child with shoes off and a painted face (child-safe and washable, of course!) at the end of a session. 
 
“They may as well do it here, where there is ratio for supervision and we're all first aid trained. This is the safest place for them to extend those skills and to extend that engagement with their place.” 
 
At Hurstbridge Children’s Centre, Bonnie Wiriwan and her team understand the value of place, and the importance of putting the child at the centre of everything they do: 
 
“It's a wonderful space here for an indoor outdoor programme, and these children don't want to be inside unless they absolutely have to be. So it’s about tuning into what our children here need and how we adapt ourselves to service that.”