Community

Building meaningful connections with families and the wider community

Commitment to Community

One of our key roles as early childhood educators at Choklits Child Care is to help set children up for lifelong learning and success. That involves exploring the wider community and assisting children in beginning to identify their place within it.

Our curriculum includes regular travel beyond the Choklits grounds to explore our local community and to meet our local people. We visit the library, catch the public bus to visit Estia Health, visit the Botanical Gardens, venture to local businesses and incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.

Through our own fund raising exercises, partnering with local organisations and our cultural commitments, we believe in supporting our community for the benefit of all early learners.

Support

Logo Choklits White

We are proud to hop, skip, jump, walk, run and fly alongside many organisations doing great things and investing in our future leaders.

Some of the organisations we are currently supporting include

Salvation Army
Cmri
Mcm
Napcan

Ringwood Hawks Basketball

Ringwood Hawks@2x

Choklits is a proud sponsor of the Ringwood Hawks Basketball Association, supporting the club in both their junior program and involvement in the NBL1 competition.

The Hawks biddy ball intro and biddy ball skills programs align with Choklits commitment to introduce children to sports, to movement and an active lifestyle. Ringwood Hawks Basketball Association is located directly opposite Choklits Ringwood in Canterbury Road, Ringwood.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Action Plan

The Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a commitment to develop a high level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.

Choklits is proud to be one of more than 6000 schools and early learning services who have formalised their commitment by developing a RAP.

What is RAP?

A RAP is a working document which helps the Choklits Community identify and understand our own cultural identity. It ensures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives are embedded in everyday practices and that Choklits is a culturally safe place for everyone
to attend.

Why?

By formalising these commitments we embrace the opportunity to weave elements of reconciliation together in practical and positive ways. Those elements include historical acceptance, race relations, equality and equity, institutional integrity and unity.

n the words of local artist Simone Thomson (descendant of Victoria’s Ulupna and Moira Clans of the Yorta-Yorta Tribe, and the Yarra-Yarra Clan of the Wurundjeri Tribe), we have the
opportunity to:


“Contribute to teaching respect for the oldest living culture on Earth and inspire knowledge seeking little minds to accept”

How?

The RAP is divided into opportunities, relationships and respect. Each of these contain sections for our centre, classroom and community actions.

In The Classroom
Around the School
With The Community
Relationships
Rel Class@2x
Rel Scho@2x
Rel Com@2x
Respect
Res Class@2x
Res Scho@2x
Ires Com@2x
Opportunities
Opp Class@2x
Opp Scho@2x
Opp Com@2x

There are 40 actions for Choklits to work through in our reconciliation journey. Over several months, a diverse “working group” including Choklits Owner Jade Ingleby, Educator Dee Wasserfall and Choklits families are responsible for implementing reconciliation initiatives.

Together, we are

Reflecting on our current reconciliation abilities and how we could improve them
writing a vision for reconciliation, and progressing through the relevant 40 actions within
the RAP.

On completion, the RAP will be submitted to Reconciliation Australia for review and reviewed annually.

Who is involved?

The RAP structure is provided by Nurragunawali, a program developed by Reconciliation Australia to support schools and early learning services to develop environments that foster a high level of knowledge and pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions.

Narragunnawali (pronounced narra-gunna-wally) is a word from the language of the Ngunnawal people, Traditional Owners of the land on which Reconciliation Australia’s Canberra office is located, meaning alive, wellbeing, coming together and peace.

We’re also working to include the voices of and build relationships with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. So far in our journey, this includes the local community centre, Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, families within the service who identify as Aboriginal and local artist, Simone Thomson.

Our work in progress

In September 2021, we were proud to finalise and submit our RAP to Nurragunnawali for review. Receiving the finished version was a moment that concreted our part in bigger national movement taking important steps for Reconciliation.

As a live and ongoing document, we will continue adding to our RAP where we identify new opportunities for growth.

While we look forward to celebrating with the wider community, in the meantime, you can download our finished RAP below.
 
We hope this will be the first step of many to come in our Reconciliation journey.

a community to belong to

Introducing CHOKLITS+

In addition to the standard early learning curriculum, Choklits does things big—really big! These programs are uniquely Choklits, and they’re free for every child who attends.

This is where curiosity grows, confidence shines and learning comes alive.

in-house allied health services
visits from dr rob
school readiness program
regular bush kinder program
messy play with asten
choklits activate with emily
yoga tuition
judo training with zac
music & movement classes
cooking experiences every week
Experiences Facilitated in 2025 Alone
0 +
Included Programs
0 +
Extra Cost to Families
$ 10

I would like to thank all the staffs of this Choklits Surrey Hill, especially the Director Qing and Manager Dee, for their support during this tough time for my child and I. I just moved to Box Hill, and I have had multiple tours around all the childcare in Box Hill. But there was not any make me feel satisfied with. As a result, I finally came across Choklits on a strong recommendation from a friend who has worked in the education industry for more than ten years. The environment inside is the cleanest childcare I have ever visited. And the teachers and children in this childcare are very kind. And the apps used for communication between families and educators is also very convenient for parents to know their children’s daily situation at any time. Teachers and the diretor will also communicate with each parent in a timely and patient manner. And they were very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about my child in a short time. So my child adapted to this new environment with their help in few days. Also, the distribution ratio between children and teachers is appropriate. Almost every child receives timely care and attention. Especially children with allergies are also highly concerned and cared by Choklits. The Choklits’s food is very good and the facilities here are also very good. Parents are strongly recommended to send their children to this childcare. This is undoubtedly a great support for parents.

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Guo

Choklits Surrey Hills has been such a wonderful, positive place for my 2 year old. The staff always have a smile on their face and are so welcoming and the rooms and grounds are so clean. The educators are fabulous and are always trying to find new ways to educate and keep the kids engaged and learning. I highly recommend.

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Alexandra

Choklits is an amazing centre where both our boys thrived, thanks to the warm and caring educators and the variety of activities and incursions included. I highly recommend this centre.

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Rochelle

Both our kids go to Choklits and love it there. I love how all the educators seem to know all the kids even when they’re in different rooms. Feels like family! The extra curricular activities like yoga and music are awesome too.

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Gemma

Fabulous educators with lots of experience. The new owners have created a very warm and welcoming environment. My little one loves all of the extra activities offered, especially the yoga, incursions & excursions! Highly recommend.

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Georgie

We have been part of the Choklits community since 2018 and can’t thank them enough for everything they do for our kids..All the educators have been so loving and caring throughout…Girls simply love going to Choklits every single day…Thanks a ton Team Choklits..keep doing what you do

 

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Sampada
Parent

Choklits isn’t just a childcare centre, it’s a place where my son feels safe, has made beautiful bonds with educators and staff and has many exciting experiences and learning opportunities. I’m excited to pick him up and listen to all the fun things he did that day. We love and appreciate Choklits for the amazing job they do caring for our kids.

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Ellie
Parent

My Daughter started at Choklits at the start of this year and I could not be more happier to know she is in the safest hands. The carers at Choklits go above and beyond to ensure kids are safe, happy and constantly encouraged. Highly recommend Choklits to parents in the community as its diverse and so amazing!

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Giselle

A welcoming daycare that took the time to get to know not only our child but our family too. The educators have a caring nature, and helped our daughter develop great independence. Highly recommended!

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Carly

I love sending my son to Choklits. He has the best time every week, he’ll come home and sing new songs to me. I have seen how much he has grown and developed by attending here and I cannot wait to send out 2nd son here too. I know they will thrive so much, and the community is amazing as well! They not only support our children but they support our family!

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Amber
FAQs

What Parents Ask Us Most About Community Connections

Everything you need to know about our connections with our community

What does community mean at Choklits?

At Choklits, community means your child is part of a warm, safe and caring place. We want every child to feel known. We want every family to feel welcome. We also want children to learn that they belong to a world bigger than their room, their centre and their home.

This is why we build strong links with families, local people, local places and community groups. We help children learn about kindness, respect, culture, movement, care for others and the joy of being part of a community.

We help children learn about the world by going out into it. Our curriculum includes regular visits beyond the Choklits grounds, so children can meet local people, visit local places and see how their community works.

Children may visit places such as the library, Botanical Gardens, local businesses and aged care homes such as Arcare. These real-world moments help children build confidence, language, social skills and care for others.

Yes. Local outings are an important part of the Choklits experience. Children may travel by foot, bus or other safe transport to explore places near their centre.

These outings are planned with care. They help children learn road safety, social skills, independence and respect for the world around them. They also make learning feel real, fun and easy to remember.

Families are a big part of Choklits. We take time to get to know your child and your family, so we can care in a way that feels personal and warm.

We share your child’s day with you, listen to what matters to your family and invite families to be part of our learning community. Many parents tell us Choklits feels like family. That feeling matters to us, because children settle best when families and educators work together.

Choklits has a Reconciliation Action Plan, also called a RAP. This helps us build respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions in real and lasting ways.

Our RAP helps guide what we do in our rooms, around our centres and with the wider community. It also helps Choklits be a culturally safe place for children, families and team members. We keep learning, listening and growing as part of our Reconciliation journey.

We want children to learn that they can care for others. One way we teach this is by supporting groups that help people in our wider community.

Choklits is proud to support organisations such as the Salvation Army, Jeans for Genes, Melbourne City Mission and NAPCAN. Through support, fundraising and community partnerships, children begin to see that kindness and care can reach beyond their own centre.

Choklits is a proud sponsor of the Ringwood Hawks Basketball Association. This is a natural fit for us because we believe children benefit from movement, sport, teamwork and active play.

The Ringwood Hawks junior programs help introduce children to sport and healthy movement. Our Ringwood centre is also located directly opposite the Hawks in Canterbury Road, which makes this a strong local community connection.

Yes. Choklits has an all-inclusive fee model, which means many special programs are included in your daily fee at no extra cost.

Through CHOKLITS+, children can enjoy rich experiences such as bush kinder, music and movement, yoga, judo, cooking, messy play, school readiness, allied health support and more. These programs add real value to your child’s week and help every child join in fully.

Community learning helps children build confidence. It helps them talk to new people, try new things and understand the world around them.

When children visit local places, learn about culture, take part in group projects and help others, they grow social skills, empathy, independence and pride. These are life skills. They help children feel ready for kinder, school and the wider world.

Families often tell us Choklits feels like family because our educators take time to know each child. Children build close bonds with their educators, and families feel supported too.

Parents also value the warm welcome, strong communication, included activities and caring team culture. We want Choklits to be a place where your child feels safe, happy and excited to learn, and where your family feels supported every step of the way.

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