About EMCC

What are the aims of EMCC?

EMCC: Our Mission Statement

To provide within the available resources the highest quality child care and learning environment, that encourages and seeks to extend the individual development of the child, that respects the needs of the family, and that has regard to the interests of the Co-operative members and the community.

EMCC: Our Philosophy

The East Melbourne Child Care Co-operative acknowledges the unique time of childhood by providing high-quality care that recognises and respects the individuality of each child and their family.

EMCC aims to provide an environment that maximises each child’s social, physical, emotional and intellectual potential in a safe, healthy, caring and stimulating environment.

High quality childcare is seen as a right, not a privilege.

We believe that all children need a dynamic and structured childcare environment in order to gain security, maximise their learning and learn respect for the rights of others.

Children’s behaviour, learning experiences and developmental obstacles will be managed positively, and all children will be encouraged to take responsibility for their behaviour and to acknowledge the rights of others. Within this structure, we maintain that flexibility is required in order to provide a sensitive and informal approach to children’s and their family’s needs.

We recognise and value the expertise, experience, academic training and commitment of our staff. We fully support their continuing professional development, believing this is also in the best interests of the high standards of our centres, and more importantly, the best interests of the children.

The family’s beliefs, values and cultures will be respected at all times, which fosters cultural awareness and understanding, and which bolsters each child’s experience within the centre.

EMCC will not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, culture, and language or physical/intellectual disabilities.

What We Provide: For Families, Children & Community

The EMCC recognises that the well-being of the children depends on the well-being, confidence, skills and high level of communication between the staff and parents by:

Running a flexible programme, which can accommodate parent’s and individual child needs for care
Encouraging parents to be involved in all aspects of the management, daily life and programming of the centres
Encouraging and promoting the transfer of skills and information between staff and parents, and between parents and parents.
Doing all we can to ensure the Co-operative is a community centre that acts a focal point for families, providing information and co-ordination of family needs and services for East Melbourne, and for parents who work in the CBD and neighbouring municipalities.