From community roots to lasting impact
Founded by local parents and guided by care, BPA Children’s Services supports children and families through safe, inclusive early learning across Melbourne’s west.
BPA Children’s Services began in 1998 around a kitchen table in Melbourne’s west.
Local parents were worried.
Kindergarten committees were exhausted.
Some services were close to closing their doors.
The system was stretched.
Families needed support.
Children deserved better.
Brimbank City Council stepped in and asked three passionate locals to help.
Steve Sutton.
Steve Dawkins.
Lorraine Williams.
They shared one belief:
Every child deserves a strong start, no matter where they live.
Together, they established Brimbank Preschool Association Inc.
The name reflected BPA’s close partnership with Brimbank City Council and its original focus on supporting kindergartens within the Brimbank community.
At the time, the goal was simple.
Keep kindergartens open.
Support families.
Create a stable, not-for-profit way to manage early learning services.
From that small beginning, BPA grew quickly.
In just two years, we went from managing 2 kindergartens to 8.
Soon after, we began managing childcare centres as well.
Early educators, including Kellie O’Connell, helped shape our approach to learning, community and quality.
Their work laid the foundations for the organisation BPA is today.
Today, BPA supports 33 kindergartens and childcare centres across Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Every week, thousands of children arrive at our doors.
We walk alongside:
children taking their first steps into kindergarten
families new to the area or new to Australia
educators building strong, meaningful careers
As the west has grown, we have grown with it.
New communities.
New cultures.
New languages.
Our role is simple and important:
To make sure every child feels safe, included and ready to learn.
BPA is proudly not-for-profit.
We do not have shareholders.
This means:
every dollar goes back into our centres
we invest in training, support and resources for educators
we improve environments and programs for children and families
Our decisions are guided by one question:
“Will this help children, families and staff?”
If the answer is yes, we find a way to make it happen.
We work closely with:
local councils
schools and health services
community and cultural groups
Together, we:
create welcoming, culturally safe spaces
support children with additional needs or disability
partner with families as their child moves into primary school
Our centres are places where families connect, share stories and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Our vision is simple and bold.
A generation of children who grow up confident, connected, and ready to shape a fairer, kinder world.
To get there, we stay focused on our purpose:
To support every child to flourish in safe, accessible, equitable and culturally responsive early childhood education.
From that first kitchen table meeting to 33 centres today, one thing has never changed.
Every child deserves a strong start.
That is our journey.
And we are just getting started.
You don’t have to do it alone.
Fill out the form below, and we will be in touch shortly.
