Why Gowrie?

At Gowrie, we recognise that a trauma-informed approach is essential to supporting the wellbeing, development and learning of every child in our care. Trauma-informed practice invites educators to take a holistic view of each family, considering the many factors that shape how they experience the world.

Trauma in early childhood can be caused by a one-off event, such as a natural disaster, or by suffering from abuse, neglect or maltreatment. We support our teams to connect contemporary theory and research with their practice, by translating this thinking into practical, everyday strategies they can apply with confidence. We then work collaboratively to capture and communicate what they have put into practice, and making it accessible to the wider sector.

For more than 85 years, Gowrie has demonstrated how thoughtfully designed spaces, routines and relationships can support children’s learning, wellbeing and sense of belonging.

We believe every environment has the potential to inspire curiosity, independence and meaningful learning. Whether in expansive outdoor settings or inner-city locations like Gowrie The Harbour in Docklands, we create environments that respond to children’s interests, encourage exploration and promote a strong sense of agency.

Children’s behaviour is a form of communication. At Gowrie, we believe understanding what lies beneath behaviour is essential to building strong relationships, supporting children’s wellbeing and creating environments where every child feels safe, understood and able to thrive.

Learning beyond the four walls of the classroom is central to how young children make sense of their world. Community-based experiences support children to build a strong sense of identity and belonging by connecting them to the people, places and cultures around them.

Encounters with public transport, local landmarks and natural environments offer authentic, real-world contexts for children to develop skills in observation, communication, problem-solving and risk assessment, learning that is far richer and more meaningful than what can be replicated indoors. In this way, Out and About experiences reflect a play-based, inquiry-driven approach to early childhood education, where curiosity about the real world becomes the foundation for learning.

Time spent learning outdoors in natural environments supports children’s physical development, resilience and wellbeing, while also nurturing a deep and lasting respect for the natural world. Engaging directly with Country allows children to build genuine, ongoing relationships with the land, weather, seasons and living things around them, reflecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being and doing that recognise Country as a living, relational entity rather than simply a backdrop for play.

Opportunities to take calculated risks, like climbing, balancing, and jumping from heights allows children to develop confidence, judgement and an understanding of their own physical capabilities in ways that built environments often cannot replicate. Together, these experiences support children to grow as capable, connected learners who understand themselves as part of, rather than separate from, the natural world.

At Gowrie, we believe that language is key to supporting inclusion, strengthen identity and belonging, and help children to begin to understand diversity. For this reason, across our services, there are language programs supporting children to learn Mandarin, Arabic, Tagalog, Italian, and First Nations languages like Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Wadawurrung.

Our language programs are embedded, where educators work closely with children to support them in learning new key phrases, understanding different cultural perspectives and following their curiosities in multiple languages.