As a Mum, I know firsthand how relieving it is to drop your child at a childcare facility and know, without hesitation, that your choice of centre was the right one, where your children are well cared for, nurtured, respected and surrounded by a stimulating, safe and secure environment.

This could not be more true than in the case of The Harbour Family and Children’s Centre at Docklands where first birthday celebrations were marked recently with an official tree planting and party for the children as well as the people that worked together to create this environmentally sustainable and stunning centre.

“We are proud to be celebrating the first birthday with the children and their families that attend the centre this year and the people who worked together on the project,” CEO Gilda Howard said of the formal celebrations held on the 25th of February, for project partners, Gowrie Victoria, the City of Melbourne, VicUrban and Lend Lease but above all the children. “It is a great opportunity to acknowledge what has been achieved for the children and families here in the Docklands precinct,” she said.

The centre is a haven for children providing full day child care and full day kindergarten with children attending from families that both live in Docklands and those that work there. The centre is also unique in that it is the only family facility in the Docklands precinct that houses a maternal child and health service and early childhood education centre under one roof, as well as operating a bookshop and training facility catering for certificate and diploma students.

The Harbour Family and Children’s Centre also operates as a demonstration centre like its sister centre, Gowrie Victoria, in North Carlton, hosting national and international visitors to observe firsthand the educational program in action. Over the last twelve months more than 1,000 parents, education, building and playground design students and professionals have toured the facilities.

The Harbour Family and Children’s Centre is depictive of the continuous growth across the Docklands Precinct. As Chair of the Gowrie Victoria Board, Chris Balaam made mention, when the centre opened a little over a year ago, 41 children walked through the doors with 18 staff members on hand, today 210 children are enrolled at the centre including 25 babies that were born in the last 12 months also attending.

Add to this a graduating diploma class in 2009 with another underway in 2010, 66 professional development courses and three separate playgroups run each week within the centre’s first 12 months – now that’s what you call growth!