About Us

Welcome to Lakeside Creative Minds—where riverside charm meets STEAM-powered play to nurture curiosity, confidence, and lifelong learning in every child.

Welcome!

Welcome to Lakeside Creative Minds, where every ripple of curiosity is nurtured into a wave of discovery. From the moment you step through our doors in Raymond Terrace, you’ll feel the warmth of our purpose-built centre, designed to spark imagination and foster meaningful connections between children, families, and educators.

Here, learning is a joyful journey: our passionate team weaves play-based STEAM experiences, dance, cooking, and outdoor exploration into each day, so your child not only grows academically but flourishes socially, emotionally, and creatively. We’re thrilled to partner with you in shaping the next generation of confident, compassionate learners.

Our Story

Lakeside Creative Minds began as a family dream to bring an innovative, child-centred early learning environment to the Hunter region. What started as a small community initiative has blossomed into a vibrant 39-place centre, built on the foundation of the Australian Early Years Learning Framework and a shared belief that every child deserves over-ratio staffing, fresh home-cooked meals, and a strong sustainability ethos. Our journey has been driven by the dedication of experienced educators, the support of local families, and an unwavering commitment to creating a place where young explorers can feel safe, inspired, and celebrated every step of the way.

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Philosophy & Mission

At Lakeside Creative Minds, we believe every child is a capable, curious learner whose sense of wonder flourishes in a nurturing, play-based environment. With over-ratio educators and immersive STEAM, arts, and sustainability programs, we spark creativity and build confidence, resilience, and foundational skills. Together with our supportive community, we lay the groundwork for lifelong learning and a smooth transition to school and beyond.

Helping Your Child Explore, Grow, & Learn

At Lakeside Creative Minds, we empower your child to push boundaries and follow their interests—whether that’s constructing rafts in our outdoor learning space, experimenting with colours and textures in the art studio, or mastering early literacy through interactive storytelling. Through individualized learning plans, purposeful incursions, and nurturing guidance, we cultivate resilience, critical thinking, and a lifelong love of learning that prepares your child for a confident transition to school and beyond.

What Our Families are Saying

My son has attended this service for just shy of a year, initially I was very apprehensive about putting him in care at all and had been at home with him entirely for the first 3 years of his life. As someone who has worked as a Nanny and Au Pair, I knew I would be incredibly selective about the kind of service and care environment that would be suitable. It is so personal being only a 40 place centre, my son is known down to his idiosyncrasies. He truly has blossomed there, especially in the realms of collaboration and cooperation, a testament to the sense of community and belonging present and encouraged. At one stage, I was called to pick him up when he was mildly unwell with a slight fever, and I swear, educators were surrounding him like he was a king, bringing him cold water and wash cloths. So attentive.

Natasha W.

From the moment my daughter stepped into Lakeside Creative Minds we felt like we’d discovered a hidden gem. The educators are not just caregivers; they are nurturing, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child’s development. Seeing their dedication is truly heartwarming. The director’s leadership creates a vibrant, supportive environment where children thrive. My daughter adores her time there, and as a parent, I couldn’t ask for more. Highly recommend!

Holleigh B.

The educators are so loving and caring, not just to my kids but to all, my eldest has autism and they have been so accommodating to his needs i am so thankful, my youngest has a hard time going to daycare some mornings and again they are there without question to help settle him in. I am grateful on so many levels!

Aimee T.

Lakeside Creative Minds — Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why choose Lakeside Creative Minds over other childcare centres?

Lakeside Creative Minds offers a rich, creative and play-based learning environment focused on curiosity, expression and community. Our centre stands out because:

In-house gourmet chef: freshly prepared meals crafted on-site with childcare nutrition in mind — this allows us to tailor menus and cater for dietary needs with flexibility.
Creative curriculum: programs guided by the EYLF that prioritise imaginative play, arts, STEM exploration and collaborative learning.
Family & community focus: we actively partner with families and celebrate cultural diversity.

Learn more about our philosophy: Lakeside Philosophy (PDF).

2. What are your opening hours?

We are open Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 6:00pm, excluding public holidays.

3. What is included in the daily fee?

Our fees are inclusive and designed to reduce day-to-day hassle for families. Inclusions are:

All meals prepared on-site by our in-house gourmet chef.
Wipes and nappies provided — Lakeside is the centre that supplies nappies as part of everyday care.
Regular excursions and incursions, planned and risk-assessed by staff.
A welcome pack on enrolment: hat, branded t-shirt, school bag and bottle.
An activity book that stays at the centre during care and is gifted to families at the end of the child’s enrolment or at year-end.

4. Do you accept CCS and other funding?

Yes — we accept the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Our admin team works on behalf of families to ensure all eligible subsidies, including Start Strong where applicable, are claimed. If you need help with claims or documentation, contact us and we’ll assist.

5. How do you ensure safety and wellbeing?

Safety is central to our design and daily practice. Measures include:

Purpose-built layouts with sightlines that allow educators to observe children from multiple angles.
CCTV coverage in public areas to support safety and operational transparency.
Robust policies, risk assessments and ongoing staff training to ensure high standards of care and wellbeing.