Our journey in Victoria began almost ten years ago. We started with two services in the south-west of Melbourne. Now, we manage 39 services across the state and work closely with eight councils and shires.
Every step of the way, we have been guided by our purpose. We have earned a reputation for transforming challenges into possibilities with people and communities.
Supporting parents
In 2021, we were approached by the Victorian Department of Education. We were appointed as the Early Years Manager (EYM) for Seabrook Kindergarten.
A volunteer parent committee was running the service as an incorporated group. The parents had limited capacity and were struggling with the complex responsibilities.
We were asked to step in as consultants. To support the committee in winding down the incorporation and transferring the service to us.
Shaping Apollo Bay
Colac Otway Shire (Shire) appointed One Tree as the EYM in 2021.
At the time, the kindergarten was managed by a volunteer parent committee. Once again, we supported the parents to wind down and transfer the service to us.
We reopened the kindergarten at a newly built facility at the local school. Our aim is to upgrade to cloud-based systems across the following areas:
Seabrook exceeds
Seabrook was rated as exceeding the National Quality Standards (NQS) in November 2024.
We have retained 90% of the original staff since the transition. Some team members are approaching milestones of up to 20 years at the service.
Apollo Bay exceeds
The educators at Apollo Bay Kindergarten smoothly transitioned to One Tree. There was a clear alignment in values and approach, which continues to this day.
Some of the original parent committee members continue to work with us. They serve on the parent advisory group for the kindergarten.
In August 2025, the service was rated as exceeding the NQS.
Working with remote communities
While we were consulting with Seabrook, another opportunity arose. We were invited to tender for Apollo Bay Kindergarten.
Apollo Bay is a remote coastal town with a small community in the south-west of Victoria.
We were well-suited to take on the kindergarten. We have expertise in working with communities to deliver remote services.
Supporting the Shire
Our team is helping to shape services throughout the Colac Otway region.
We attend regular networking meetings where we consult on the challenges of remote service delivery.
Our educators have also been invited to share their program and practice at local conferences.
“The successful transition of Apollo Bay Kindergarten to One Tree Community Services, and its recent exceeding rating, is a testament to the strength of collaboration between local families, the Department of Education, and our valued service partners.” Sharyn Ryan, Family & Children Services Coordinator Colac Otway Shire
This article was originally published in our 2025 annual report: shaping communities together. Read the full report here.
