Goodstart Early Learning Derrimut

I would not recommend Goodstart Derrimut to parents seeking quality childcare. A significant number of the five-star reviews appear to be from staff who work at the center and have their own children enrolled, which raises concerns about the accuracy and bias of the ratings. During my experience, I noticed several issues that were disappointing. The level of care and engagement for children was lacking—staff often seemed poorly trained, and rather than fostering learning and development, children were left to run around with little structure. Instead of meaningful activities, iPads were used as a distraction. Additionally, staff frequently spoke in their own language in front of the children, which could create communication barriers and limit the children’s engagement. Another major concern was the food provided. It lacked proper nutrition, with meals like instant noodles being served, which is not appropriate for growing children. It was also clear that paperwork and compliance were prioritized over the actual well-being and development of the kids. If you’re looking for a nurturing and educational environment where your child’s growth is the priority, I strongly recommend looking elsewhere. I’m relieved to have moved on.

Our time at Goodstart Derrimut was deeply disappointing. My son had two exposures to his well-documented and well-known allergy. The first was a near miss, and the second resulted in him being hospitalized. The entire situation was poorly handled. When the second incident occurred, the centre called me before calling an ambulance, seemingly relying on me as a nurse to manage the situation rather than acting swiftly on their own. Unfortunately, my son did end up in hospital, and to add insult to injury, I was billed for it. It took eight weeks of me constantly chasing them up before I was finally reimbursed, adding even more distress to an already traumatic experience. While they claim to be a not-for-profit organization that cares about families, that care was nowhere to be seen when we needed it most. No one above the centre manager, such as the area manager, ever reached out to check on us. Instead of offering support, their focus was entirely on making sure the paperwork was in order. I left feeling incredibly disappointed, unsupported, and let down by a centre that should prioritize children's safety and well-being above all else

Thank you for providing exceptional support and helping my children to learn and grow. After changing 5 different services finally my children found a place where they are not treated as objects. They are taught to make decisions for themselves, take care of themselves and others here. The environment is natural, warm and welcoming. Centre cook and management team is always supportive and provides opportunities to discuss the concerns and resolve the issues respectfully and promptly. The service always ensures the safety and wellbeing of everyone attending the service.

We love Good start Derrimut. The staff are so warm and welcoming when you see them at the reception. They are very helpful and make sure you are well aware of everything when enrolling and in general. My 2 sons have attended here since November 2024 and we have loved the transition. Nikāu is Lucky enough to have Runi & Peta as his educators. Peta is amazing and so good at what she does! Very helpful and you can tell she actually cares. Over all every teacher I've spoken to is kind and caring. We have nephews and nieces in almost every class at good start too so I've gotten to know all the teachers at once 😂 would 100% recommend sending your children here. Our beautiful children deserve the love and care these educators give ❤️