Who we are
The pronunciation and the meaning of the Akidamy is 'the child in myself' A - Kid - A -Me
An inspiring environment that sparks a life of learning and allows every child to flourish.
A Vision for Exceptional Early learning
Every transformative journey begins with a deeply held belief. The Akidamy blossomed from our founders’ passion to offer children and families early support, encouragement, and inspiration. As parents of three children themselves, Michael and Natalie were committed to creating an early learning space where children are loved like family and given every chance to learn, grow, and develop.
They, like many families, encountered the frustrations of finding early learning environments that truly aligned with their values – places that offered both quality, forward-thinking education and genuine, comprehensively family support for family life. They realised that something more profound was needed: a space where children are truly understood and empowered, and where parents feel genuinely supported.
The Akidamy’s foundation is built on the complementary expertise of founders Michael and Natalie. Michael’s three-decade career features significant leadership in NFP, corporate, and FP organisations, including his background as a professional engineer in mining and various charity initiatives. As CEO of The Akidamy for over 7 years and with over 13 years overseeing NFP childcare (Long Daycare & OSHC), his more than 20 years dedicated to early childhood education reinforce his profound commitment. This blend of experience strengthens our strategic and administrative processes. His community service was humbly recognised with an Australia Day Premier’s Active Citizenship Award for NFP childcare. He is also a proud member of REAIE, ACA, and ECA.
Complementing Michael’s strengths, Natalie, our Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and a mother herself, applies her astute financial leadership skills and deep understanding of people dynamics, which she has honed through her senior corporate roles. Together, their combined professional and personal insights form the bedrock of The Akidamy as a truly family-centred school, steadfastly committed to maintaining the highest quality standards.
The Akidamy was founded as a direct response to a concerning trend observed in the broader Australian Australian early childhood landscape: a move towards corporatisation that often led to a lack of compassion and a forgetting of the core customer – the family. Michael envisioned a new, family – centred model that many deemed impossible or too costly, but through meticulous research and a focus on the right team, culture, and systems, The Akidamy proved it could be achieved with uncompromising quality.
Why We Exist
We believe every child deserves a loving, nurturing environment that inspires growth. We support families in their child’s development within a thriving community, embracing the idea that ‘it takes a village’.
Since 2018, as industry leaders, we seriously uphold our responsibility to demonstrate higher standards in Australian early childhood education. Our values guide every decision, reflecting in each child’s experience. We understand the parenting journey and are honoured to be part of yours.
Motivated by a profound personal conviction, the Akidamy sought to create an early learning environment that truly supported families and maximised children’s potential. They envisioned a joyful space where innate curiosity and high educational standards seamlessly converged, inspiring The Akidamy’s establishment.
We have worked tirelessly to build a team that is skilled, compassionate, and dedicated to helping each child feel respected, supported, encouraged, inspired, listened to and cared for.
We understand the journey of raising young children and are honoured to be part of yours.
The Akidamy Values
Our story is built upon a clear sense of purpose and a commitment to foundational principles that shape every aspect of The Akidamy experience.
Our Core Purpose
To provide an inspiring environment that sparks a life of learning and allows every child to flourish.
Our Vision
We dream of a world where an outstanding holistic early childhood education that supports, encourages, inspires, and nurtures children is a universal right.
Children are given a solid foundation, where they are empowered to reach their full potential by acquiring lifelong skills to contribute meaningfully to society—leading lives of joy, accomplishment, connection, and contribution.
Core Values
The values of The Akidamy were created in consultation with everyone who walks through our doors. We are committed to embodying these values every day- from the morning coffee shared between team to the way we resolve conflicts on playground - you'll see evidence of them weaved into every action.
At The Akidamy, we are committed to embodying our five core values in every aspect of our day-to-day. These values steer every decision we make and every interaction we engage in. They are non-negotiables in our practice.
Core Values
Children & Families First
We always put the needs of children and their families first – their intellectual, emotional and social wellbeing is paramount.
We strive to make things easier for our families and reduce their load. They rely on our expertise for simplification and clarification.
Genuine Relationships
We foster genuine and respectful relationships between staff, families, children and the wider community.
Our communication is respectful, open and kind. People are valued, listened to and have a voice within a safe and healthy environment.
True to Our Promise
We are authentic. We make big promises because we intend, and will deliver, on each and every one of them.
We are true to our word and do what we say we will.
Always Evolving & Innovating Practices
We never stop looking for new ways to improve ourselves and our school. As industry leaders, we embody an open growth mindset, embracing new technologies and systems to refine our communication and processes.
Our evolution is always purposeful, rooted in who we are and our dedication to our community, families, and one another.
Prioritise Learning
We seek out and use every opportunity to put the learning and education of children and our team at the forefront of all our decisions.
We seek every opportunity to place learning at the forefront of all we do, for our children and our team alike. We nurture curiosity by listening to children’s voices, following their interests, and fostering a culture of critical reflection where everyone is both a learner and a teacher.
Prioritising education in every decision, we lay the foundation for confident, capable, and inspired lifelong learners.
Akidamy's Foundation for Flourishing: Our Why, How, & What
Our Why
Spells out the Akidamy purpose as a school:
- We believe that each and every child should experience a space for love and learning that inspires their hearts and minds to grow and develop within a loving, educational, and nurturing environment.
- We want each and every family to be supported in the growth and development of their child in a thriving, positive, and inspiring environment.
- We believe in the importance of being actively involved within our community as a source of connection, awareness, and purpose.
- As industry leaders, we have a responsibility to demonstrate a higher standard in early childhood education.
- We believe it takes a village to raise a child.
How We Do Things
The things that make us special and how we operate:
- Exceptional Education and Care: Our school provides exceptional early childhood education and care, prioritising the nurturing of children’s growth and development in a safe and supportive environment.
- Holistic Curriculum: We deliver a comprehensive early learning curriculum aligned with our core initiatives and values, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience for children.
- Foundation for Lifelong Learning: Our focus is on creating lifelong learners and laying a solid early foundation in life for children, preparing them for future success.
- Service-Oriented Culture: We foster a service and support culture that benefits both families and staff, promoting collaboration and a sense of community within our school.
- Continuous Improvement: We are committed to continuous improvement and innovation, utilising best practices to enhance our educational offerings.
- Community Engagement: We actively contribute and give back to our community, fostering connections and advocating for harmony and equity.
- Early Childhood Advocacy: We advocate for the significance of early childhood education and teaching, valuing and promoting these professions in our society.
What We Do
What we do is set out our intent:
- Creating a Dream-filled Environment: We champion a place to dream, filled with laughter, happiness, and fun, fostering a space for love and learning.
- Reggio inspired Pedagogy: Through exceptional experiences and inspiring, engaging environments as our “third teacher,” we deliver a unique approach that ignites children’s learning and development.
- Exceeding Expectations: Our organisational culture and core values drive us to surpass the expectations of our families and team, striving to provide exceptional care and education.
- Comprehensive Support: Our commitment to ‘Nothing but the child’ and ‘Nothing but the team’ ensures that we make the lives of children, families, and team members easier and less stressful by meeting their every need.
- Building Meaningful Relationships: We foster respectful and meaningful connections between children, families, educators, all team members, and the wider community, understanding the importance of strong relationships in the educational journey.
- Promoting Continuous Development: We promote the growth and development of our team, educational philosophy, and operational procedures through critical reflection and a commitment to continual improvement.
- Active Community Engagement: By actively participating in our community, we forge meaningful connections and strong partnerships, enhancing the educational experience for all.
