Kindergarten program
A play-based program guided by the Queensland Kindergarten Learning Guideline, led by a university-qualified early childhood teacher.
See the programChelmer · Brisbane · Est. 1991
Where little people do big growing.
A community-owned, not-for-profit kindergarten tucked into the heart of Chelmer — helping 3 to 5 year olds grow confident, curious and kind through the power of play.
ACNC-registered charity
Community-owned since 1991
Play-based QLD kindy program
Welcome to our kindy
A kindy that belongs to its neighbourhood
For more than three decades, families from Chelmer, Graceville, Sherwood and beyond have walked through our gate and into a community. We are owned by our families, run by a volunteer parent committee, and driven by one simple belief — children learn best when they feel they belong.
As a registered charity and not-for-profit, every dollar that comes through the gate goes straight back into our program, our playground and our people. No shareholders. No franchises. Just a small kindy with a very big heart.
"We bring families together and give our 3–5 year olds a quality education wrapped in play, wonder and mud."
Our mission — Chelmer Station Community Kindergarten Inc
A day at Chelmer Station
- 8:30Arrival & morning hellos
Children settle in, find their friends and choose where the day begins.
- 9:00Morning gathering
Songs, news and planning the day's adventures together.
- 9:30Indoor & outdoor play
Climbing, building, painting, digging — child-led learning everywhere.
- 10:30Morning tea
Shared fruit, conversation and growing independence.
- 11:00Projects & small groups
Teachers extend the children's big ideas into deeper investigations.
- 12:00Lunch together
A social, unhurried meal in the shade of the poinciana.
- 12:45Rest & quiet time
Stories, puzzles and calm corners to recharge busy bodies.
- 1:30Afternoon play & stories
One last burst of imagination before home time.
- 2:30Home time
Happy, tired and full of stories to tell.
Session times shown are a sample rhythm — current group times are confirmed at enrolment.
The daily rhythm
Days built around play, not clocks
Our days follow a gentle, predictable rhythm that helps children feel safe — with long, uninterrupted stretches of play where the real learning happens. Teachers weave early literacy, numeracy, science and social skills into whatever the children are curious about that week.
One week it's a post office in the home corner. The next, an engineering firm building bridges across the sandpit. Follow the children's interests, and the curriculum follows too.
What we offer
One program, a thousand adventures
An approved Queensland kindergarten program delivered by qualified early childhood teachers — with room for mud, magic and the occasional paper plane.
Nature & outdoor play
A leafy outdoor classroom with a mud kitchen, native gardens and shady trees — because sticks and puddles are serious learning tools.
Explore outdoorsReady for school
Confidence, independence, friendship skills and a love of learning — the foundations that make the move to Prep feel easy.
How we prepare0Years of community kindy
0Kindy groups
0Not-for-profit
0Little graduates & counting
Kindy voices
What our families tell us
Our daughter ran in every morning and came home full of stories. The teachers knew her better after a week than we thought possible.
Sarah M. Kindy parent
It feels like the kindy we went to as kids — muddy knees, painting on the fence, real friendships. Exactly what we wanted before school.
Tom & Priya Kindy family
As a community-run kindy, you're not just dropping your child off — you become part of something. We made friends for life on that committee.
Emma R. Past committee member
Family names shown with permission — replace with your own kindy community's words.
From the verandah
News & dates
12Jan 2026
2026 & 2027 enrolments now open
Our waiting list is open for this year and next. Places are offered in waitlist order, so join early — it takes two minutes by email.
16May 2026
Open morning — come and play
Bring your little one, meet our teachers, explore the playground and see a kindy morning in action. No booking needed.
22Mar 2026
Community working bee — thank you
Twenty families, one new mud kitchen and a freshly planted native garden. This is what community-owned really means.
Come and see the magic for yourself.
The best way to choose a kindy is to stand in one. Book a tour, bring your child, and feel the difference a community kindy makes.