Sofia Costa, Layla Moralde and Fateh Singh on their third day of kindergarten.
St Mel’s Kindergarten, located at 200 Archer St in Shepparton, has been a trusted early learning provider since 1969. Established by the Daughters of Divine Zeal, the kindergarten has continually adapted to meet the needs of the community’s youngest learners.
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Recently, St Mel’s was rated ‘the best kindergarten in the Goulburn Valley’, earning a KindiCare Quality Index score of 9.4 — well above the local average of 8.
The independent KindiCare rating system assesses early learning centres based on publicly available data, government audits and community feedback, helping families compare childcare services.
“I’m thrilled for St Mel’s to receive this recognition as the best kindergarten in the Goulburn Valley,” parent Jobelle Collier said.
“Mim (St Mel’s director Miriam Stewart) and the lovely team she leads put their hearts into everything they do at the kinder.
“Their dedication, passion and commitment to providing the best experience for the children really shines through.”
St Mel’s Kindergarten children and educators taking a moment to pause.
While KindiCare’s ratings provide an additional benchmark, families can also refer to government assessments. The Australian Government’s National Quality Framework evaluates early childhood services across seven key areas, with results published on the StartingBlocks.gov.au website.
In June 2023, St Mel’s was rated ‘Exceeding National Quality Standard’ under the NQF.
“We are honoured but I’m not surprised, because I know the high quality of education that St Mel’s Kindergarten is already achieving,” St Mel’s chief early childhood officer Carla Jeffrey said.
“We’ve been the recipients of some grants from the Department of Education through the Building Blocks Initiative, and we’ve been able to improve the indoor spaces, staff planning areas, children’s bathrooms, a foyer for parents, and we are now looking to make some improvements to the outdoor area.
“But it’s not the building, it’s the quality of teachers and educators that do the tremendous job.
“They (teachers and educators) have a lot of children from culturally and living with diverse backgrounds and they do an exceptional job with those children and families.
“Miriam Stewart, the kindergarten director, is an exceptional early childhood kindergarten director.
“She is forward-thinking, extremely innovative, and her willingness to continually reflect and improve on their practice is what makes St Mel’s Kindergarten what it is.”
Among Ms Stewart’s initiatives is the On-Country Kindergarten program, which was introduced last year. This approach takes children outdoors with minimal resources, encouraging them to engage with nature as their playground.
Rocks, trees, mud and water become tools for creativity, exploration and connection with the natural world.
“I have two kids who attended St Mel’s at different times,” Ms Collier said.
“They have completely different personalities, but what I love is that both of them have had opportunities to thrive in their own unique ways.
“The variety of activities, especially outside play/exploration time, and experiences beyond the kinder’s location, have been incredible for them.
“A particularly special experience for our second child has been the On-Country Kinder sessions, where they’ve had the chance to explore the state forest.
“It’s given her a wonderful opportunity for curious exploration, and it’s been such a great part of her growing journey!”
A group of young dinosaur fans on a prehistoric adventure.
For many parents, KindiCare’s score seems to reflect the experience they see every day.
“St Mel’s Kinder is such a welcoming community, and the educators genuinely care about each child’s individual needs and growth,” Ms Collier said.
“I would definitely encourage other parents to visit and experience the centre for themselves.
“Take the time to see if what they have on offer would suit your child and take the time to see for yourself the passion the St Mel’s Kinder staff have for what they do.
“I know I speak on behalf of many parents when I say I highly recommend!”
KindiCare ratings explained
The KindiCare Rating is an independent assessment system that combines data from government evaluations, family reviews and other relevant metrics. It categorises early learning services into six performance bands:
• Outstanding (9.5–10)
Centres in this category demonstrate excellence in education quality, environment, culture and curriculum. They typically have experienced staff, strong community feedback and consistently exceed the National Quality Standard.
• Very Good (8.5–9.5)
These centres surpass the national average, meet or exceed the NQS, and receive positive feedback from families.
• Good (7.5–8.5)
Centres with this rating provide above-average early learning services, meeting most NQS, though feedback or assessments may highlight areas for growth.
• Fair (5.0–7.5)
Services in this range fall below the national average, often receiving limited or mixed feedback. Some may be newer centres identified as needing improvement after their initial review.
• Poor (5.0 and below)
Centres in this category fall below the national average and often require major changes across multiple areas. They typically receive poor feedback and are assessed as not meeting key aspects of the NQS. Some newly reviewed centres may also fall into this category if areas for development are identified.
• Not Rated (NR)
This category includes centres operating for less than three years that have yet to undergo formal assessment under the National Quality Framework by ACECQA.
