Quality Area 7 · Governance and leadership

Leadership families can trust.

At Hawthorn Street, clear values, accountable leadership and continuous improvement keep quality visible rather than assumed.

Come and see it in action Explore 30 family stories

Values guide decisionsResponsibilities are clearEducators keep learning

A child learning through play and exploration

Quality families can see.
Real practice, explained in plain language.

What this looks like at Hawthorn

Small moments. Meaningful outcomes.

Browse family-friendly examples drawn from Quality Area 7. Choose an NQS element or move through every story.

Hawthorn Street children and educators learning together

Element 7.1.1

What this means for your family

Service philosophy: what it means for your child

Philosophy review is embedded through staff meetings, induction, Wednesday training, the staff-room goal wall and reflection on daily events. Our educators link the Philosophy to drop-off, transitions, group behaviour, curriculum and play, then record examples and proposed wording. Contributions turn broad values into practical decision guides. For your family, this means the service's values are visible in everyday decisions, relationships, teaching and care. Ask us how leadership, accountability and continuous improvement support quality for every family.

Ask us to show you

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Story library

More ways quality becomes visible

30 stories in this selection

See Quality Area 7 in motion

Quality starts with accountable leadership.

A short vertical video gives families a genuine glimpse of the people, decisions and everyday experiences behind the words.

9:16 Vimeo format — designed for phones, without black sidebars on the website.
Captioned and muted — clear and accessible wherever families watch.
Connected to real practice — every video supports a family story from this Quality Area.

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A child engaged in an early learning experience

HAWTHORN STREETQuality starts with accountable leadership.QA7 · Governance and leadership

9:16 VIDEO · VIMEO READY

Shared by our families

The words families remember.

Real comments from Hawthorn Street families, speaking about the moments that gave them confidence.

“Hawthorn St Early Learning just takes all the stress away as a parent.”

The Harvey familyHawthorn Street family

“Highly recommend the centre.”

Nikkita BaxterHawthorn Street parent

“You are gems of the centre and give parents real confidence their children are in safe hands.”

Advika Sara familyHawthorn Street family

What families can expect

Leadership families can trust.

Four practical commitments make the Quality Area meaningful for children and families.

Values guide decisions

The service philosophy connects daily practice with children’s rights, families and the local community.

Responsibilities are clear

Leaders make sure people understand their roles, follow through and review the impact.

Educators keep learning

Coaching, professional learning and inquiry strengthen the decisions educators make with children.

Improvement stays active

Feedback and evidence are used to test, refine and embed better ways of working.

The seven Quality Areas

What quality feels like for your family.

Each area turns the National Quality Standard into experiences families can recognise at Hawthorn Street. Together, the seven pages contain all 200 family stories.

Learning designed around your child45 family stories Healthy, safe and cared for30 family stories Spaces that inspire discovery25 family stories Educators you can rely on20 family stories Relationships that help children thrive20 family stories Families and community belong here30 family stories Leadership families can trust30 family stories

Acknowledgement of Country

We learn together on Wiradjuri Country.

We acknowledge the Tubbagah People of the Wiradjuri Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet and learn. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge their continuing spiritual connection to Country.

See it for yourself

Come and see what quality looks like in your child’s day.

Meet our educators, explore the learning spaces and ask us to show you how these commitments become visible in practice.

Book a tour