St Nicks Botanica: a new chapter for one of Canberra’s most in-demand early learning centres
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Tucked away in one of Canberra’s leafy suburbs, St Nicks has been redefining what it means to nurture young minds for over 30 years.
And now, as it prepares to open the doors to its brand-new campus, families have even more to look forward to.
Now accepting enrolments for January 2026, St Nicks Botanica will continue its sister school’s legacy of a boutique early learning experience for families seeking high-quality education, offering the same beloved specialty programs, and Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum that have made St Nicks Hellenica a local favourite.
Welcoming children aged from six months to five years, it’s a rare chance for parents to enrol their little ones into one of Canberra’s most in-demand early learning centres.
For Athena Zappia, the Director of St Nicks, the opening marks a full circle moment for her.
Working in early education for over a decade, Athena attended the school in 1994 herself and became the Director eight years ago after being approached by the Hellenic Club to join the business. Coming to St Nicks with a vision to offer a high-quality service, she says what makes it different to other early learning centres is they view children as capable thinkers, “supported to explore and make meaning through relationships and experiences.”
“I’ve been in the industry since 2009, I’ve worked directly with children in a leadership capacity as a lead educator, helped recover underperforming centres, opened new centres in Sydney and Canberra, and I feel like I’ve had a lot of experience in that field. I’ve also got a great leadership team, including Tarni, my co-director,” she says.
“We both have children, so I think there’s a lot more care and understanding about what families need. We also have those high expectations, because we have our children here as well. We hold a high standard and we value children’s voices which is why we have an exceeding rating against the National Quality Framework.”
Set amidst leafy surrounds and designed to welcome up to 82 children across five thoughtfully crafted rooms, like the Hellenica campus, Botanica will offer immersive and hands-on specialty programs alongside a curriculum inspired by the renowned Reggio Emilia philosophy.
But while the Hellenica campus will focus more on Greek culture and heritage, Botanica invites children to explore the natural world through sensory encounters, open-ended play and connection to Country.
“It’s in a leafy part of Yarralumla and it backs onto a green space. There are lots of natural trees around, all natural elements are getting put in – like real grass – along with botanical textured plants and edible gardens for the children to experience,” says Athena.
“Our philosophy is inspired by the world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach from Italy — a project-based and collaborative educational framework. For many years, we’ve embraced its principles to shape our curriculum alongside the Early Years Learning Framework, creating a program that values inquiry, creativity, and meaningful connection.”
Seeing children as competent and naturally inquisitive, she says that the approach will ensure that play and respect for the environment will flourish alongside wonder.
Add in Bush Kindy sessions – where learning is taken beyond the classroom and children make clay from mud, explore local flora and fauna, build forts, and cook over open fires – and parents can rest assured that their children’s curiosity, creativity, and resilience will be nurtured through unstructured play.
“Bush Kindy is a distinctive part of our program. Our teachers, trained through the UK Forest School approach, take small groups of ten children into the Yarralumla community each day from 10 am to 3 pm, where they learn on Country, developing confidence, curiosity, and a deep respect for the land.”
“We offer a range of specialty programs that enrich children’s learning. Our gardening teacher guides children through the garden, learning about seasonal produce and how to care for the earth by feeding the worms and reducing our environmental footprint. Each week, Leonie from Ready Steady Go leads our sports program, while our youngest children engage in music classes.”
“We’re also proud to have Duncan and Jakida from Wiradjuri Echoes working with our children for the past seven years, sharing Aboriginal customs, stories, and cultural knowledge that deepen our connection to Country.”
Deciding to open a second centre to cater to the demand for places at St Nicks Hellenica – which is evident in the two-year waitlist – Athena says that she’s excited to see St Nicks grow and open up to new families.
Accepting children from all backgrounds, as St Nick prepares to start an exciting new chapter, whether they’re helping children delve into Greek traditions or explore bush kindy adventures, the ethos and uniqueness of the school remain.
“It feels really special to be expanding our St Nicks community and creating another space where children can grow, explore, and feel inspired — early education that nurtures curiosity, connection, and confidence from the very beginning,” says Athena.
“We’re passionate about early education and creating opportunities for children to explore and express their ideas, recognising them as competent and capable individuals, just like us.”
For more information visit stnicks.act.edu.au
