St Nicholas is a community in which children and young people develop the cultural, spiritual, physical and educational skills to belong in a contemporary world.
Collectively, St Nicholas provides education services spanning early education, out of school hour care and vocational education.
Our story
Spaces in early education centres across the Hunter were sparse back in 2015 and parents were crying out for help.
Recognising their need and motivated by a desire to support families, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle responded. In 2016, the Diocese opened two early education centres under the banner of St Nicholas Early Education – one in Newcastle’s CBD and the other in Singleton.
In the years that followed, St Nicholas continued to expand its network of Early Education centres, and in 2018, St Nicholas OOSH was born, offering high-quality education and care to children aged 5-12 before school, after school and during school holidays.
In 2019, St Nicholas extended its commitment to ensuring its services are staffed with skilled and high-qualified staff with the launch of St Nicholas Pathways, an initiative established to excite, engage and support those in the community who wish to explore or expand their career in early childhood education and care.
Today, St Nicholas provides education and care to more than 6,000 children across 11 Early Education centres and 33 OOSH services and offers world-class vocational education to more than 100 educators through our Pathways programs.
Looking to the future, St Nicholas remains resolute in its commitment to supporting and partnering with families to nurture and inspire children and young people as they develop the skills to thrive at home, at school and in society. With a desire to ensure sustained growth without compromising quality or ethos, St Nicholas’ strategic direction is grounded in our purpose and guided by four intersecting themes: community and partnerships, sustainability, growth and quality.
Our services
Early Education
St Nicholas Early Education is our region’s leading provider of child-led, play-based and Reggio Emilia-inspired early education and care for children aged 0-5.We ensure high-quality early education and care by facilitating each child’s optimal moral, social, intellectual and physical development in partnership with families and communities.
St Nicholas OOSH provides Before School Care, After School Care and Vacation Care in fun, safe, supportive and inclusive environments where children between the ages of 5-12 can play, explore, be creative and use their imagination.
St Nicholas Pathways exists to excite, engage and support those in the community who wish to explore a career in early childhood education and care through a range of programs and study options.
