About us
River & Kin started as a dream for our founder, Phoebe. Fresh out of a double Early Childhood and Nursing degree, she couldn’t wait to open the doors on her own childcare service that could meet families where they were at.
Phoebe wanted to create a centre that could be:
A space where children could explore, encouraged to take risks and develop at their own pace, without being pushed or rushed to reach the next stage.
A second home for families where they could feel welcomed and valued, with a team that was committed to partnering with them for the benefit of their child.
Somewhere educators could realise their passions, share ideas and work each day feeling valued and respected as professionals.
River & Kin is the result of this big dream. Phoebe and the team are so excited to meet you and work with you and your family to create a learning space where you and your children can just be.
Director – Phoebe Christison
Phoebe founded River & Kin after 16 years of experience in the industry. In this time, she was a Director of a childcare service in Sydney’s Inner West with 103 places. After her husband’s role brought them to Wagga Wagga in 2015 with their own two year old in tow, they’ve now grown to a family of five. Most recently, she worked at the Wagga Wagga Christian College’s preschool. River & Kin is a dream come true for Phoebe and she’s so excited to work alongside trusted friends and a strong community to make this space a reality.
“I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing a soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to extreme old age.”
– Henry Henry David Thoreau
We acknowledge and appreciate the Wiradjuri people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, learn and play. We pay our respect to their Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We recognise that their connection to Country spans thousands of years and we strive to learn from their deep knowledge of and care for our surroundings.