Only About Children

OAC Highpoint has been a great Childcare Centre for my children! Both kids started in Nursery room and have transitioned wonderfully in each room with my youngest currently in the Toddler room (Sara as the Team Leader) and my eldest in Kinder (Jennifer as the teacher). It's a spotless centre with Educators that are engaging, plenty of activities and also fun excursions for our kids to learn and develop. In addition, their Head Chef Maggie prepares the most amazing dishes! Highly recommend! A+

Some key things stand out for us with OAC Highpoint:
It’s a small campus which means all the staff know my child by name, and all greet us in the morning.
As a result of feedback, they have reduced nursery places so it’s a calmer environment for the babies starting their childcare journey.
The room is constantly changing based on what the kids are showing interest in.
There is a consistent effort to create community with morning tea’s, events, etc
I routinely see management in the rooms, helping out during busy times of day and interacting with the kids by name.

We have been lucky to be part of the Only About Children Highpoint Campus for two years now, with our two children attending. We looked around multiple other Childcare centres in the area before enrolling here, and honesty nothing could compare after we visited OAC for the first time. The facilities are amazing, spotless and the team really take pride in the campus.

Whilst childcare drop offs can sometimes be daunting, I feel completely at ease knowing the kids are going to have an amazing day. The educators are absolutely wonderful at what they do, every single employee greets the children as soon as stepping into the door and the highlight of the day is definitely receiving the regular updates and photos – always brings a smile to my face.

Well done and thank you OAC Highpoint team!

Fantastic center and facilities. My 4 year old has been attending OAC daycare and now kindergarten since she was 1. OAC Highpoint has some incredible educators who encourage creativity and learning, emphasise the importance of manners and show genuine care for my child.

I have been working at the Only About Children Highpoint campus for over a year and I would like to share my experience as a staff here. I have been working in the industry for twelve years in total now and I have never worked with such hard-working, down to Earth and genuinely caring about the children and the staff as the Director and the 2IC here. They are providing the best leadership job any leader can provide. I feel so supported and inspired by them. I am aware that Rachel Murray- the campus' current director has just been working at Only About Children Highpoint for less than two years but she has made a huge transformation for the campus. I also want to mention that the parents and the team here are so kind, understanding and supportive. The campus feels like my second home, a connected community, and I am super comfortable in this environment. I definitely recommend Oac Highpoint to any educators and parents.

Do not send your child to this centre. Especially their cold heart Centre Director - EMMA VELISCEK. All what she cares is just about the business and budget, not the care and loves for the children.

Under my son time, both of his room educators Rachel & Antonitte were on leave at the same time, they could not manage to get additional staff. As a consequences, the centre was under-staffed and my 6months son was left hungry and not enough sleep during a day. His behaviours were also completely changed on these days. From a very good, happy & independent boy (can sleep & play by himself at 3months), he was extremely exhausted when I picked him up and just wanted to lay on our arms for the rest of the days.

Below is the letter I emailed to Emma on 20.03.19, given the subject was marked with Urgent, she has never responded to my concerns. It has led me to no option rather than pull him out of the centre. Despite how terrible their centre is, I still have to stay with them for 8weeks as a termination notice. Upon his departure, no explanation was given.

I sent my 6 months old son at this centre from Feb-19 to May19 but due to busy work and 3 months of travelling, injust got time to write the review now so that others can see what will happen after the tour and sweet words of the Centre Director.

"URGENT

Hi Emma,  

We have noticed significant changes in Johann's behavior on both Monday and Tuesday. We would like to know how his days were? When we picked him up, he was extremely tired, could not smile as normal and drank from the bottle immediately.

On Monday, the center only changed the nappy for him 2 times. Was it because of both Rachel and Antoniette were absence and the center was under-staff?

Because of his tiredness on Monday, on Tuesday morning, when we dropped him off, we requested the educator to bottlefeed him at 5pm but it seems like they did not do it. And again, when we picked him up. He is extremely exhausted. When we brought him home,  he was extremely hungry and tired and felt scared if we leave him alone for even a second. We are really worried what has been happening to him at the center.

Please note that the above behaviours have never been happened. He is always happy and smile when we pick him up. His sleeping and drinking has been improved and well enough for him to have enough energy till at the end of the day. What has been happening to him on both Monday and Tuesday is unexceptional for me when the educator did not try to bottle feed him again at 5pm as per my request".

Update current: reviews from my friends who have moved their kid from Maribyrnong to Melbourne Central and Surry Hill, they said that OAC Highpoint is an exceptional.

I sent my son to 2 centers in the city and I am supper happy with their services. If you love your kids, stay away from this centre even though their location is the best.

What can I say about OAC (Only about CHA - $$ - CHING!) - when a parent must give 12 weeks notice to pull their child out of the centre or 4 weeks notice to change a day - you begin to (quickly) realise, it's only about their business.

I can't (and won't) speak for other OAC centres, but Highpoint is clearly not a high priority for OAC central. The place is poorly run and the promises are a plenty - however, fail the kids (and the parents) dismally. Their kindergarten program is non existent and their Staff turnover (as another reviewer mentioned) is absolutely appalling.

One excursion in the last 3 years with my 4.5 year old is abysmal and incomprehensible - they are in a 'major' shopping centre! Take the kids to Bunnings, Coles, Fruit shop. ANYTHING! And teach them about life - get creative. Nope.

Enter at own risk.and if you respect your $$$ - go elsewhere. My kid is so much happier at his new kinder now - SO MUCH! And more importantly, his development is way beyond anything we expected.

Very friendly and accommodating to all your needs when having a tour of the facility, promise you pretty much the world. Induction is supposed to be over 3 days, Unfortunately my son has not been away from me so didnt take too well to the idea of mum not being around, so we only did half hour on first day inductions and half hour on his start date. We missed two days of induction unfortunately due to pregnancy complications at the time. So i pulled my son out of daycare. Staff and accounts were very insensitive to this even though i provided a letter from my Obstertrician stating my condition. Because my son started on his "start date" (mind you for only half hour) we were still made to pay the 6 week cancellation fee which was suppose to end in January, we have just been charged again the full amount and found out they were still getting paid from centrelink. ASK QUESTUONS, BEWARE OF EMPTY PROMISES. This has truly turned me off sending my children to child care, terrible first experience. If i could rate less then a star 1 would.

The staff turnover seems to be high, as many carers are new or inexperienced. Think hard before admitting your child here.
It seems the OAC chain's head office in Sydney, and administration work or follow ups for anything takes a long time. Infact, because the many staff are new, any OAC related questions asked and generally 'refer to the website /paper work'.
If looking to use this child care, reconfirm all cost related questions at least thrice and obtain responses in writing /email.
Services are not outstanding for the cost you pay.
Alternatively, there are many better choices for the high price you will pay here.