About Us

Long Day Care

We invite you to make an appointment
and visit our Centre

Who We Are

SHNC Long Day Care & Preschool is a small, not-for-profit childcare centre that has been serving the Surry Hills community since 2010. We pride ourselves on being a welcoming and inclusive environment that provides high-quality childcare services to local families and children. Our centre is licensed to care for 25 children per session, organised into two rooms: one for babies and infants (ages 6 months to 2 years) and another for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2 to 5 years). We operate under a philosophy of open management, governed by a volunteer Governance Board.

Our Philosophy & Values

At Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre Long Day Care, we aim to provide a secure, caring environment for children at an affordable price. We welcome all children and families and celebrate the diversity of unique identities, strengths and accomplishments that educators, families and children bring to our Centre. We focus on building nurturing relationships, providing holistic care and developing engaging play-based educational programs that support the diverse interests and abilities of children. We are committed to professionalism and continuous improvement, consistently seeking feedback to ensure our services reflect the community’s values and aspirations.

Parents’ Information

Our Approach to Learning

Strong personalised curriculum

Our centre is dedicated to supporting families in raising inquisitive, independent learners, believing every child has the potential to love learning. We encourage children to explore their interests through planned activities, spontaneous play, and intentional teaching, ensuring an inclusive environment that meets diverse needs. We introduce children to the beauty of books, music, songs, and nature, providing dedicated spaces for reading, painting, and science to engage different interests and learning styles. Our educational programs align with the Early Years Learning Framework, facilitating a smooth transition to school readiness through play-based and role-playing activities. We also support children’s engagement with the local community through visits to the park, Surry Hills Library, and our Out of School Hours Care service at Crown Street Public School.

Celebrating diverse cultures

One of the wonderful aspects of life in Inner Sydney is the diversity we experience. Our centre aims to foster this diversity by encouraging children to learn about their identities within the wider community. Our team of educators supports children’s understanding of diversity and culture by incorporating celebrations, traditions and stories of various cultures into their daily practices. We embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives throughout our curriculum, ensuring that children have opportunities to learn about First Nations culture supported by the 8 Aboriginal Ways of Learning framework.

Our Space

SHNC Long Day Care is located in a fit-for-purpose building in the heart of Surry Hills. Our facilities have been designed specifically for childcare to support children’s safety and wellbeing, offering an open-plan environment across two indoor rooms and an outdoor space. The building uses sustainable materials, maximises natural light, and utilises recycled water. The outdoor area includes a retractable roof for climate control, allowing children to enjoy activities like playing in the sandpit, riding bicycles, and tending to a mini vegetable garden.

We invite you to make an appointment and visit our Centre

Call us on 9331 8409 or send an email to children@shnc.org

Why Families Choose Us

  • Supportive, community-based centre – A small, welcoming centre close to Sydney CBD and public transport.
  • Experienced, qualified educators – Our long-standing, dedicated, and passionate team provides exceptional care.
  • Educational and school readiness program – Our programs reflect children and families’ interests, responding to children’s curiosity and enhancing their ongoing learning and development.
  • Exceeding NQS – We exceed the National Quality Standard in Quality Area 5: Relationships with Children and consistently meet all other areas.
  • Fresh seasonal menu – Provided by a leading childcare catering company.

Our Community

Our service is part of the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre, a not-for-profit non-government organisation that has been operating in Surry Hills for 40 years. As a not-for-profit organisation all proceeds from our Long Day Care go back into the Centre to improve our facilities and provide additional, ongoing training for our professional child educators.

Meet our Staff

Spring Chum Moi Lai,

LDC & Preschool Coordinator

Sanjana Prakash,

Assistant Coordinator

Joyenti Chowdury,

Educator

Selina Wang,

Educator and Support Worker

Kavita Dalki,

Educator

Vilia Wen,

Early Childhood Teacher

Velen Harditya,

Educator

Gillian Elliott

SHNC Manager

Lucy Harrison Prentice

Administration Officer

Stephen Lunny

Community Programs Coordinator

Victoria Baghos

Business Officer

Kate Lienert

Assistant Manager