Families arriving at Smart Start Early Learning Centre

A Place to Belong

For 15 years, Smart Start has been a family-owned early learning centre right here in our local community.

From the beginning, we've believed every child deserves to be known, cared for and treated like family — never just a number.

Family Owned. Proudly Local. For 15 Years.

Our founder sharing the Smart Start story

A Promise Kept, A Place Cherished

Where It All Began

Smart Start was created with a simple belief: children deserve a place that feels as warm, safe and welcoming as home.

Family Owned for 15 Years

For 15 years, our family has proudly served local children and families, building relationships that extend far beyond the classroom.

Growing With Our Community

We've watched children grow, welcomed siblings through our doors and built lasting connections with generations of local families.

Still Guided by the Same Values

While early learning continues to evolve, what matters most to us hasn't changed — knowing every child, supporting every family and creating a place where everyone belongs.

15YEARS
OF GROWING
TOGETHER

Proudly family owned and part of our local community for 15 years.

01

Family Owned

Personal care, genuine relationships
and family values at heart.

02

Familiar Faces

A long-standing team creating lasting
bonds with children.

03

Growing Together

Proudly supporting local children and
families through the years.

Play Is Learning

Guided by the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline (QKLG).
Physically active play, Creative arts, Social play — these are our classrooms.
We observe, follow their lead, and stretch their thinking. No tests. Just growth.

Children making creative artwork
Creative Arts
Story time and discovery outdoors
Nature Play
An educator and children exploring hands-on science activities
Science
An educator and children making music with percussion instruments
Music & Movement
Children enjoying imaginative play with their educator outdoors
Dramatic Play

Not Teachers. Co-Discoverers.

Children aren’t empty vessels waiting to be filled. They’re curious minds, full of questions, ideas and possibilities.

At Smart Start, our educators don’t simply teach. They observe, listen, wonder and explore alongside each child — following their curiosity and helping them make sense of the world in their own way.

Children aren’t empty vessels to be filled.
They’re sparks, waiting to be lit.
An educator connecting with a childChildren gathered for story timeThe Smart Start teamAn educator helping children discover
We don’t stand in front of children with all the answers.
We sit beside them and wonder together.
We notice what sparks their curiosity, follow where it leads, and discover alongside them — because learning begins with wonder, not instruction.
And discovery grows through trust.
With educators who have been here for over a decade, your child is known, understood, and encouraged to become exactly who they are.
Our educators and children together in the garden

School Connections

Graduating from Smart Start isn't a push out the door. It's a handover. We work closely with schools in our local community to support a smooth transition to Prep. Your child meets their future teachers and walks the hallways long before Day One.
By the time they start, it feels like a next step. Not a leap.

Children meeting their teacher in a primary school classroom
Illustrative mother and child wearing broad-brim hats and exploring a garden together

Tatyana Davis

★★★★★

My son went to Smart Start from 18m to 3.5yrs old. It is a lovely centre with genuinely caring and friendly staff who do their best for your little ones. We have never had a bad experience. Very professional, clean and they have wonderful healthy meals that my son enjoyed. They have a wonderful homely culture, almost every single educator across the rooms know every child in the centre. They are adaptable to your child's needs. My son loved his time there ! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this centre to friends and family. Thank you for taking such good care of my lil one.

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Ashley Ford

★★★★★

Highly recommend smart start early learning! My son started here in February 2023 and has improved in so many ways. When he first started here I had many concerns with his learning development and the ladies were so helpful to get the things we need for him and he has come such a long way. He has grown such strong bonds with all the educators in the centre, actually so sad for him to be venturing off to school this year but so thankful he has had these lovely ladies support him along his journey.

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Illustrative father and son wearing broad-brim hats and playing with wooden blocks outdoors

Shona Walker

★★★★★

20 December 2023 marked the end of an era for our family. After 8 long years today our family’s journey with Smart Start Early Learning Centre comes to an end. Master T was 1.5 when we started at the centre with Shannon as his lead educator. I was a nervous wreck sending him to a new centre after an awful experience at another centre for him but Beck & Shannon made the transition so easy assuring me that my boy was as going to be well looked after- & boy did they deliver on that, the whole centre did to be precise. Enough so that I had zero issues with starting Master R there at 8 weeks old when I had to return to work earlier than planned. Nivanthi took the biggest shining to him & I knew he would be looked after just as well as Master T was. Donna & Natalie gave Master T the absolute best start to his schooling journey with everything they had thought him & the love they had shown him during his final year & cried almost as much as I did when he graduated preschool & went off to big school. Donna also got the joy of introducing Miss K to the wonderful world of Smart Start when she started daycare as a tiny baby loving every outfit she wore & soaking up the baby cuddles. Now this year Miss K has finished out her time with Dayna & Sophie preparing her and supporting her in the absolute best way possible to begin her journey in big school. They have shown her such kindness & compassion, love & care. They have given her cuddle when she’s needed it, laughed with her & celebrated the big & small wins with boy her & I.. This team has been led by 2 amazing directors in this time- Peta & Amanda. 2 wonderful, strong, smart women who, let’s be realistic, totally deserve a medal for putting up with me for 8 years as a parent at the centre 🤣My family’s time at Smart Start will absolutely never be forgotten & the things that the educators at this centre have contributed to my babies lives educational & personally with most definitely never be forgotten either. Not only have they contributed to my children’s educations but they have also contributed to who my children are at their cores. They have helped shape them in the kind, caring, loving, strong & smart people that they are today & for that I will be forever grateful.If anyone is looking for a centre who actually cares about not only their children but the family who attends as a whole, Smart Start is your place. When you walk through those doors, you’re not just a number or a dollar sign, you’re family. You’re part of the Smart Start family. & my time as a part of that family will always hold a piece of my heart.❤️

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Keira Day

★★★★★

The staff are just amazing. They actually take the time to help child grow. They communicate every step of the way. More then happy with the centre and the girl.

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Illustrative father and daughter reading a picture book together at home

Jessica Harris

★★★★★

An amazing centre that we've stayed with despite moving out of town because the quality is so good. Will be genuinely sad at the end of the year when my babies are all too old for kindy but they've done a wonderful job with my 2 girls over the past 5 years.

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Amber

★★★★★

Amazing staff all around. Extremely welcoming and are onto anything and everything right away. Kids always come home happy. Highly recommend Smart Start ELC.

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Chloe Bull

★★★★★

Hands down the best centre, my daughter has been here for 3 years now and I can’t fault them, the staff go above and beyond, excellent communication if there’s any incidents and always giving courtesy calls if necessary. I love the family atmosphere and the way they adapt to each child’s needs. The staff turnover is also very low which is very good for our family as my daughter doesn’t like change so she’s grown up around most of the same staff.

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Dino Romolor

★★★★★

Great place for parents that have busy schedule and not only that, they teach very important lessons for infants, and toddlers.. Impeccable staffing too.. keep up the good work teachers.

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Acknowledgement of Country

At Smart Start, we respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land we meet and learn upon, the Yuggera and Ugarapul peoples of the Yugara language group. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, as keepers of the traditions, cultures and stories. We promise to care for this country, its animals, and the natural world we share.

Seven smiling children at Smart Start