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Bluebird childcare marks 20-year milestone

Taylar AmoniniBusselton Dunsborough Times
Bluebird Childcare founder and chief executive Jane Chambers.
Camera IconBluebird Childcare founder and chief executive Jane Chambers. Credit: Breanna Redhead/Busselton Dunsborough Times

Two decades after embarking on a plan to provide family support, Bluebird Childcare operators are reflecting on their success.

Starting from a humble house in Busselton, Bluebird marked 20-years in childcare and family support last month with chief executive and founder Jane Chambers returning to where it all started to celebrate the milestone.

“I was studying a teaching degree and realised in my final crack teaching in schools wasn’t what I wanted to do, so I decided to buy a house and open my own school of sorts,” she said.

“We started with just 25 children and now we have opened our first Perth site and we now go far beyond these four walls.

“Right from the beginning my dream was to provide kids, especially vulnerable kids, with a welcoming home away from home where they can feel safe while their parents know their health and education is a priority, not just babysitting.

“I have five children of my own, I’m a working mum so I know how hard it can be at the best of times with a lot of support so I know it’s even harder when you’re in a tough situation in regional WA.

“I’ve been able to achieve that thanks to the support of my team, but we work closely with agencies such as women’s refuges and homeless, mental health and disability support organisations such as Lamp Inc and Senses WA.”

From humble beginnings, Bluebird now supports more than 4000 children a month from Margaret River to Perth and is now one of the largest private childcare operators in the South West.

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