A brand-new childcare service in Mandalay is getting ready for its grand opening in July, having welcomed parents this week for a look through its unique location.
Tucked into the rainforest of Mandalay and bordering a wallaby sanctuary, the Jungle Zoo Early Learning Centre already stuns with its location but adding its theme on top, the tropical forest truly comes alive.
Mother-daughter pair Michelle and Amy Collins have cultivated a “Whitsundays theme” at the new educational facility.
“It all began with these wonderful fibreglass animals that we found down in Brisbane – elephants, monkeys, zebras – and we took the theme and brought it here,” Michelle said.
“It just fit in this environment; it welcomes the kids on an adventure whilst giving parents the knowledge they’re leaving their kids in magical, nurturing playground.”
The theme of adventure and creativity is epitomised in its four individually designed rooms: Jungleland, Woodland, Farmland and Dreamland. As well as its courtyard of activities, including a water park.
Each room caters for a different age group, with the long day-care, kindergarten and after school care centre taking children from 8 weeks up to 12 years with its capacity of 109 children at any one time.
Amy and Michelle have a combined 30 years of experience in the childcare industry, starting when Michelle and her husband and Amy’s father, Terry, began their own centres down in New South Wales.
“When Amy was growing up, we were looking around and realised that we could be offering something better,” Michelle said.
“Having that fun environment, but also making sure that children – especially those from eight weeks – are actually learning and going into school with confidence.”
Moving up to Airlie Beach 17 years ago, Amy started her own family and realised she could – with the help of both her parents – bring the highest standard of childcare to the Whitsundays.
“It felt like there was a missing link in the school readiness as well, and additional services for our community like speech pathology and so we wanted to bring those sorts of things to our home,” Amy said.
“Additional services and incorporating support for families in an ongoing learning space – that’s our vision.”
Jungle Zoo Early Learning Centre will host an open week from May 30 to June 4 and is now taking enrolments.
Michelle and Amy Collins have created an incredible Early Learning Centre in Mandalay
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