Welcome to Mother Duck Childcare Gaythorne
Mother Duck Gaythorne is a trusted local childcare and kindergarten, part of the wider Mother Duck team supporting Brisbane families since 1990. We provide rich educational programs for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, with a sole focus on helping every child feel safe, secure and excited to learn.
Our Gaythorne centre acts as an extension of the home, where qualified educators build strong relationships with children and families and prioritise outdoor play as highly as indoor learning.Â
Our kindergarten children regularly visit the local library, where they participate in literacy-rich experiences that inspire curiosity, language development and a lifelong love of reading.
These experiences, together with our partnerships with local schools and other community connections, support every child in our kindergarten program to transition confidently and successfully to their Preparatory year.
Caring for
Ages 6 weeks to 5 years
Capacity
110 children daily
Approved Kindergarten Program
Five studios available
We supply:
- Healthy, allergy-friendly lunch and snacks
- Nappies
Your child will need:
- Hat
- Water bottle
- Sheets
The early years are critical to a child’s future, and we want every Queensland family to know that free kindergarten is available from 1 January 2024. The Queensland Government offers funding for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year, at a government-approved educational program. It is for children aged at least 4 years by 30 June in the year before they start Prep. See here for more information.
Download our statement of fees for our Queensland Government Approved kindergarten program. If you have questions about the child care subsidy, childcare fees, or potential out of pocket fees, our centre manager can help existing families and new enquiries understand how it applies to your child’s age and attendance pattern.
Address
23 Heliopolis Parade, Gaythorne Qld 4051
Hours of care
6.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday
(07) 3855 1090
Feel free to drop in anytime to take a tour of our facilities.
We just ask that you let us know you’re coming. 
Nearby Centres to Gaythorne
Meet Our Franchisee – Miss Mel
Mother Duck Gaythorne is proudly owned and operated by Miss Mel, a qualified early childhood teacher who has been part of the Mother Duck family for more than a decade. Throughout her journey, Mel has built strong, lasting relationships with children, families and educators, and is passionate about creating a service where every child feels safe, valued and inspired to learn.
As an owner-operator, Mel is actively involved in the day-to-day life of the service, working alongside her leadership team and educators to ensure every decision reflects what is best for children. Her commitment to quality, continuous improvement and meaningful relationships creates a welcoming community where children and families are known, supported and celebrated.
Supported by the wider Mother Duck Childcare and Kindergarten network, Mel combines the personalised care of a locally owned service with the strength, expertise and ongoing professional support of an organisation that has been nurturing Queensland children for over 35 years.
Our Centre Features
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Room to run, climb and play Our four outdoor learning environments at Mother Duck Gaythorne Child Care Centre are spacious, grassy and shaded by beautiful established trees, creating inviting spaces for children to explore and play throughout the day. Sandpits, climbing equipment and open areas encourage children to climb, run, discover and challenge themselves through active play, while our youngest children enjoy their own dedicated outdoor environment where they can build confidence and develop new skills at their own pace.
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Food focus Our qualified Chef, Vanja, prepares fresh, nutritious meals and snacks each day, including delicious allergy-aware options. Working closely with our educators, Vanja sees mealtimes as an opportunity to build children's confidence, independence and positive relationships with food through meaningful, everyday experiences. This approach reflects our commitment to creating mealtimes that are nourishing, respectful and responsive to every child, where children are encouraged to explore food, make choices and develop lifelong healthy eating habits.
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Large open studio Our spacious, open studios provide children with time and space for uninterrupted play, where they can explore their curiosities, follow their interests and build confidence through meaningful, hands-on experiences. Our thoughtfully designed environments encourage choice, independence and a genuine love of learning.
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Junior room At Mother Duck, every child—from our youngest infants to our Kindergarten children—is supported through responsive rhythms and rituals that honour their individual needs, interests and development. Everyday moments such as mealtimes, toilet learning, rest and play are viewed as meaningful opportunities to build trusting relationships, foster independence and create a strong sense of belonging, wellbeing and emotional security.
Our Gaythorne Team
We’re proud of our team of educators, meet our Gaythorne centre’s team.
Miss Mel
Nominated Supervisor & Centre FranchiseeMiss Mel began her childcare career in 2000, working across a few centres before joining the Mother Duck team in 2016. Miss Mel ensures Gaythorne feels like a genuine home away from home for children, families and educators. Miss Mel completed her Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services in 2009.
Miss Therese
Assistant DirectorMiss Therese started in early childhood education more than 16 years ago, 7 of which have been with Mother Duck Gaythorne. Miss Therese builds strong relationships with children, families and educators, and completed her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care in 2017.
Miss Sonia
Nominated SupervisorMiss Sonia has been part of Mother Duck since 2017 and joined the Gaythorne team in 2024. Miss Sonia completed her Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care in 2021, and builds strong relationships not only within the centre, but with the wider Gaythorne community.
What Other Parents Have to Say
When you walk through the doors the atmosphere is very warm and inviting and the staff are kind, thoughtful, energetic and have genuine care and respect for the children.
As a first time mum, I was very nervous at the thought of leaving my one-year-old daughter in child care. After much debate we decided on Mother Duck Gaythorne as it had a homely feel, the staff were warm, friendly and professional.
Our daughter loves her teachers and the centre is always looking for ways to improve their care and service. We cannot recommend the centre highly enough.
Book a visit
We invite you to visit Mother Duck Gaythorne to see the centre and meet our team. Drop by any time, we just ask that you let us know you're coming. If no available time slots suit your schedule, please get in touch to arrange another time.
Book a TourFrequently asked questions
We care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years old, across our nursery, toddler, early learning and kindergarten programs, with up to 110 children in care daily.
Daily programs balance indoor learning in our large open studios with plenty of outdoor play across our four outdoor play areas. Younger children have their own separate play area, and routines include meals prepared by our in-house chef, rest times, and small and large group learning experiences tailored to each age group.
Our Approved Kindergarten Program is delivered by qualified educators and follows the National Quality Standards. It’s designed around school readiness, literacy and numeracy, and social and emotional development, supported by our local school connections to help your child’s kindergarten program transition successfully into Prep.
Mother Duck Gaythorne is open 6.00 am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday.
Most families are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), and Queensland’s approved Kindergarten Program is free for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year, for eligible children aged 4 by 30 June the year before Prep. Our team can help you understand your entitlements. Â Download our statement of fees or contact the centre directly.
Start by booking a tour so you can meet our educators and see the centre for yourself. From there, our team will guide you through enrolment paperwork, including your child’s immunisation history and, where relevant, your Child Care Subsidy details.
Mother Duck Gaythorne features four outdoor play areas shaded by beautiful trees, large open indoor studios, a dedicated junior room for our youngest children, and a kitchen where our in-house chef prepares allergy-friendly meals and snacks daily.