St Mel’s Kindergarten named Goulburn Valley’s best childcare

An Italian order of nuns is at the heart of the Shepparton kindergarten named the best in the Goulburn Valley region. See where your kinder ranks.

St Mel's Kindergarten in Shepparton ranked as the Goulburn Valley's best child care centre.

A Shepparton kindergarten started by an order of Italian nuns who had children at the forefront of its mission has been named among the state’s best.

St Mel’s Kindergarten — located at 202 Archer St — was revealed as the Goulburn Valley’s best kindergarten, ranking in with one of the state’s highest ratings for environment, culture and curriculum.

The centre earned an impressive 9.4 in the KindiCare Quality Index — placing it within the top 5 per cent in Victoria.

The index rated 17,680 childcare services across Australia and was based on the results of official government inspections, as well as online reviews.

St Mel’s Kindergarten was started in 1969 by the Daughters of Divine Zeal — an order of nuns hailing from the Italian town of Messina — who follow the teachings of Saint Annibale Maria Di Francia.

St Mel's Kindergarten was started by the Daughters of Divine Zeal.

The order was founded more than 120 years ago by St Annibale, who loved children and the poor.

St Annibale is a “symbol of Christ’s compassion and tenderness for all humans”.

St Mel’s Kindergarten was one of seven in the region to be given “Excellent” status.

Bernard Briggs Kindergarten was also named among Goulburn Valley’s best with a score of 9.2.

The kindergarten ranked in as ‘Excellent’, alongside six other childcare centres.

In 2012, St Mel’s was awarded a grant from the Victorian government to refurbish its kindergarten buildings, allowing the kindie to expand to four classes.

Goulburn Valley’s highest rated kindergartens

St Mel’s Kindergarten — 9.4

Bernard Briggs Kindergarten — 9.2

Shine Bright Kyabram Municipal Kindergarten — 9.2

Aussie Kindies Early Learning Kyabram — 9.2

Tatura Children’s Centre — 9.2

Colliver Road Kindergarten — 9

Wyndham Early Learning — 9