See how Bribie Island Community Kindergarten has made early learning history.

BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

MAY 26, 2023

Tom Hanks won the Best Actor award at two consecutive Oscars, and Tones and I spent 24 weeks at the top of the ARIA Singles Chart, but neither of these achievements (in our humble opinion) come close to what Bribie Island Community Kindergarten has achieved!  

This little Queensland kindy has been awarded the Excellent rating from the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority for the fourth consecutive time.  

They’re the first service to ever achieve this feat, and they’ve done it without luck, coincidence or any fancy facilities!  

‘BICK’ simply stays true to its philosophy, and Kindergarten Director, Narelle Dawson says, “We are always looking for ways that we can be and do better for our children, families, each other and the community.” 

Community partnerships are a huge part of the kindy’s success, and although it’s impossible to list every amazing connection they’ve created, here are three community initiatives that give you a sense of how very special BICK is.   

1. They have been visiting local aged care facilities for more than 10 years.  

BICK recognised the benefits of cross-generational meet-ups years before the current buzz around intergenerational care began, and they haven’t let a pandemic get in the way of their incredible intergenerational care program.  

Narelle says, “Before Covid, we were visiting one aged care facility once a term, and another once a week. However, during Covid we had to find other ways to ensure the program continued, because the link between the elderly and the young is vital for all.”  

“We began with children on the outside of the big glass doors and the oldies on the inside. The children would sing and dance for the seniors and some of the seniors would sing for us. Both groups also did chalk drawings on the glass doors to keep a connection going.” 

“As Covid progressed, the rules changed and we were no longer allowed to do this, because the oldies weren’t able to socially distance on their side.” 

“So, we resorted to Skyping, and delivered gladioli to each and every resident. We also gave teddy bears to the oldies, with messages on them, and sent in letters and cards made by the children.” 

This level of commitment and care says everything about BICK’s community ethos, and although aged care visits are now back to normal – happening in person every Friday – no-one has forgotten the lengths that everyone went to to keep seniors’ spirits up in the dark days of the pandemic.  

2. BICK has published a picture book about a local pirate! 

Children and educators regularly tend to a community garden with other keen beans, and as well as encouraging an interest in growing, harvesting and volunteering, these gardening sessions have also inspired a fantastic story. 

BICK has created a picture book called ‘Bob the Pirate Gets a Green Thumb!’ which first came about when a man called Bob knocked on their door.  

Narelle explains that, “Bob asked if he could help out in the garden, and we, of course, accepted him with open arms!”  

“Bob lives on a boat down at our waterfront and has a prosthetic leg, and when he started to put so much time and effort into the community garden, we were inspired to honour his work and tell his story, with a swashbuckling flavour!” 

“We self-published ‘Bob the Pirate Gets a Green Thumb!’ so Bob could take this book on his sea travels and share it with his family all around Australia and New Zealand.” 

The book is an amazing keepsake that normalises disability, and Narelle says this rollicking tale has been a huge hit with the preschoolers, fellow gardeners and other Bob fans!  

3. BICK is also involved in a local research project with Indigenous people. 

The Joondooburri Walk Action Research Project began back in 2016, and BICK has been involved since the beginning.  

Narelle says, “The Joondooburri Walk is a nature path that runs along our local creek, and as part of this action project, we’ve helped to install culturally-inclusive signage, and are working to get all-accessible pathways built along the creek bed to allow for safe use of wheelchairs.” 

“We’re very committed to learning about and supporting Indigenous culture, and with local elders and children aged three to 18, we’ve created another book called ‘The Joondoburri Walk.’” 

“This book identifies 28 plants and trees and their Indigenous use, with jarjums (children) providing illustrations for it, and elders sharing their voices and knowledge in its pages.” 

All of these meaningful initiatives say a lot about Bribie Island Community Kindergarten.  

They do everything they can to make childhoods magical and the world a better place, and a quick scroll of their Facebook will show you how invested they are in their local community and environment – not just now and then, but always.  

They’re so deserving of their fourth Excellent rating, not to mention their near-perfect KindiCare Rating, and maybe there is some luck in all of this after all, because any family who gets to attend BICK is fortunate indeed!