Important Questions | Stepping Stones Acad

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you provide meals?
Yes, we provide fresh meals prepared every morning. Our menu accommodates vegan, kosher, halal, and other cultural or dietary requirements.

2. Do you have male educators?
No.

3. How do you ensure my child is safe in your care?
Your child’s safety is our number one priority. The owners of Stepping Stones Academy are parents themselves, with three young children under the age of five, so they understand firsthand the importance of safety and the trust you place in us.

We have security cameras installed throughout the service. These are monitored by the operators even when not on site and are accessible only to the Department of Education, the operators, and other relevant government agencies. Unlike some centers that may focus on aesthetics, we prioritise genuine safety and compliance above all else.

4. Do you post photos of the children online?
No. To protect your child’s privacy, we do not share photos on social media. Instead, we use a secure internal platform called OWNA, where you can view photos and updates of your child in a private circle shared only with you and relevant families.

5. How do you ensure health and safety in the centre?
We conduct thorough internal and external compliance checks on a regular basis. Independent compliance officers provide additional oversight to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Our service is proactive in identifying and addressing safety concerns immediately. Importantly, in over 15 years of operating within the childcare sector, the operator has maintained a record of no serious incidents.

6. Are your staff qualified and do they have Working With Children Checks?
Yes. All staff hold the minimum required qualifications under National Regulations, and every staff member has a current Working With Children Check, police check, and up-to-date First Aid and CPR certification.

7. How do you ensure your staff are compliant, and do you have staff turnover?

Staffing is something we take very seriously. In our professional experience, staff turnover in the education and care sector is common and generally high and this is influenced by a wide range of factors. These may include personal circumstances such as marriage, pregnancy, visa conditions, or relocating to a different area. Turnover can also occur when staff do not maintain the requirements of their role, such as renewing their Working With Children Checks etc.

At Stepping Stones Academy, the safety and wellbeing of your children will always come first. As part of our due diligence, we ensure that all staff consistently hold current Working With Children Checks, police checks, fit and proper clearances, and up-to-date First Aid and CPR certificates. In addition to these requirements, we carefully select staff with the right attitude, mentality, and work ethic to provide the best care possible.

Our service continually monitors and supports staff performance through training, supervision, and compliance checks to ensure that mistakes are prevented. If, at any time, a staff member who was once a strong hire is no longer meeting the high standards required for health, safety, or regulatory compliance, Stepping Stones Academy makes no apologies for taking swift action, including termination if necessary. The safety and wellbeing of your children will always be our top priority, and all staff are expected to remain compliant with National Regulations at all times. Children have a good ability to adapt to change. The priority should never be "do you have a high staff turn over", but rather, do you have good staff!

We know that you trust us with your most precious angels, and that for us is an honour and privilege that we take seriously and it is our responsibility to ensure they receive the very best care, support, and protection every single day.

8. Bigger centers vs smaller centers – what are the pros and cons?
In our professional experience, bigger does not always mean better.

Large centres can feel overwhelming for children, especially those new to childcare. They may create sensory overload, have more “blind spots,” and children may feel less known or recognised among hundreds of families.
Smaller centres, like ours, allow for stronger relationships. Families become part of a community, and not just a number. Safety is easier to manage, and you have direct access to the owners, who are on-site daily.

We believe the personalised, family-oriented nature of smaller centres offers far greater benefits for children and families.

Family Day Care or Nannies vs Childcare Centers – which is better?
We strongly recommend childcare centers. Family Day Care and nanny arrangements can have limitations, such as:

Less supervision (often only one adult present). Child safety concerns.
Higher risk of children spending time in front of screens.
Limited socialisation and play space.
Concerns around carers being distracted (e.g., on phones).

Childcare centers, by contrast, provide structured learning, peer interaction, and a safe, regulated environment. For more details, please see our full article in the Articles section.

9. Do you help families with fees?
Yes. Depending on your individual circumstances, there is government assistance available, such as the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Our team takes pride in supporting families through the application process and ensuring you access the right level of fee relief. You may be eligible for other fee relief funding and support.

10. Do you work with charities?
Yes. Giving back to the community is one of our greatest passions. We actively support Aboriginal communities, Ronald McDonald House, homeless shelters, and other non-profit organisations.

We welcome families in hardship to contact us directly—we are always here to help and play our part in supporting our wider community.