Affinity Education Goes Above and Beyond 250 in 2025

Affinity Education Group is celebrating a new milestone – operating more than 250 centres around Australia as the group commences 2025.  

The milestone follows the acquisition of sixteen centres and opening of an additional newly built centre late in December, investments which will support over 1,300 additional places in locations where early education and childcare is in high demand. 

CEO Tim Hickey said the expansion provided additional economic, social, and educational benefits for Australian families seeking quality care and career opportunities to more than than 500 employees who have been welcomed into the company.  

"It’s exciting to start 2025 reaching a new milestone – providing access to childcare and early education at more than 250 centres around Australia,” Mr Hickey said. 

"Our promise at Affinity is Potential, Realised, and we're quickly identifying the talents, experience and passion of our newest employees, while getting to know our newest enrolled children and families,” he said. 

“We will ensure every one of these newly acquired or built centres is set up to offer children our Lifelong Learning Curriculum, and for our employees – multiple funded training options and career pathways in a company that celebrates and recognises our people.” 

On the New South Wales Central Coast, thirteen centres previously owned by the Pilot Group and located between Port Macquarie and Kincumber were acquired by Affinity, comprising well-known centres including: 

• Bangalay Child Care & Education Centre 
• Bright Beginnings Children’s Centre 
• The Beach Early Learning Centre Erina 
• Little Beginnings Fernhill Road 
• Little Beginnings at Hillsborough Road 
• The Beach Early Learning Centre Kincumber 
• Little Beginnings at Kolodong 
• Little Flippers Kindergarten 
• Little Beginnings at Maryville 
• Port Eco Kids Village 
• The Beach Early Learning Centre Tuggerah 
• Little Beginnings at Warners Bay 
• The Beach Early Learning Centre Wyong 

In Victoria, three centres previously owned by Nino Early Learning in Craigieburn and Point Cook were acquired which have been rebranded. 

• Kids Academy Early Learning Craigieburn 
• Kids Academy Early Learning Point Cook 
• Papilio Early Learning Point Cook  

Also in Victoria, Affinity’s latest greenfield development - Papilio Early Learning Hoppers Crossing - received Department approval to open late in December and is already welcoming new families. 

New to Affinity after more than 20 years working in the sector, Centre Manager Katherine Fawcett has been the much loved and loyal manager of the team at Little Flippers Taree for 15 years. 

“We’ve been supported from day one by some incredible people from Affinity, and I’ve noticed that our needs and feedback are responded to quickly which is building our confidence that we’ve joined a great company,” Katherine said. 

“I’m also really impressed by the systems Affinity uses to support us in our roles, along with the multiple departments in the Centre Support Office – there is definitely a big load being taken off my plate of responsibilities,” she said. 

The December 2024 growth at Affinity Education Group follows two Queensland-based acquisitions which took place earlier in the year, Kidi Kingdom Hillcrest and Leading Edge Kallangur.

As of January 2025, Affinity Education Group owns and operates 255 centres with a further three centres under construction, which places the company as Australia’s third largest provider of early education and childcare.