Welcome to ‘Pachamamaity.’ It is the story about our multi-award winning early education and childcare service in the Perth Hills of Western Australia. Its about doing things differently.
Members of our family enjoy sharing aspects they find most extraordinary about Pachamama and how they influence a higher level outcome for our children.
Through sharing our journey and practices that commenced in 2012, we hope to inspire you to create your own version of extraordinary for the purpose of making this world a better place through providing future leaders with high quality early years education.
‘Quality Project’ summary from Child Australia
Pachamama recently commissioned Child Australia to complete a ‘Quality Project’ on our Pachamama Activity Centre attended by school-aged children and infants. A Professional Practice Consultant with Child Australia, Connie Borg, visited Pachamama in March 2023. Over a four hour period, she focussed her attention on observing interactions with children and transitions, engaging with educators and children seeking
The pure form of Pachamama beyond it’s environment
Walking into Pachamama for the first time, you are welcomed with a sense of peace from the natural environments. Each space is perfectly articulated to create an atmosphere for learning, imagination and growth. But, if you pay careful attention, you will be welcomed by a more pure form of Pachamama’s essence – and that is the children.
Underlying every environment must be an inspiring philosophy
When people come to Pachamama, the one universal response is that they are genuinely surprised at how beautiful the environments are. They invariably wonder about the creativity that led to the outcome. We have come to learn that the reason for the response is because Pachamama is so different to what parents and children usually experience in
Jurassic Park at Pachamama
When building our Pachamama Activity Centre, one of the most surprising aspects was discovering there was an abundance of groundwater. The area was shady with large trees and overgrown, thick with weeds falling away to the southeast corner of the property. When the property was purchased, it was a section that was overlooked … left to last
The sounds of Pachamama
I started working at Pachamama in 2019 as an educator. As a retired business person living only a hundred metres down the road from Pachamama, I thought it would be wonderful to engage with my community and help teach the children. These were special years for me learning a new vocation and interacting with the children. They
Nature for the mind, body, and soul
I am a country girl at heart and it was a breath of fresh air for me when I came to work at Pachamama. I grew up on a farm in Kojonup, Western Australia. So wide open spaces filled with nature are in my bones. Connecting with this nature is so important for the mind, body and
Beyond relationships and dreaming in Italy
A long time ago when I was still wondering what my dream career would be, I dreamt of a place like home where I could give the best I had to little children. I was in Italy at the time, and the only option I had was to open a family day care which is not really a
Normal is not a word in Pachamama vocab
Pachamama’s vision is being a home away from home steeped in nature, creativity and diversity. When introducing a new resource into a Pachamama learning environment, consideration is given as to whether it is aligned with Pachamama’s vision. Would it be suitable in a home, or is it more befitting of an institution? Is it made from materials
There’s no place like home
‘There’s no place like home,’ says Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz when desperate to go home to Aunty Em in Kansas. The concept of home engenders a feeling of comfort, belonging, and relaxation. I envisage a family snuggled up on the couch with a blanket and relaxing amongst feather-filled cushions under the glow of a warm
School visits build confidence for formal schooling
We embrace nature at its best in our daily routines, interactions and learning at Pachamama. We also put love and pride into our connections. We focus on relationships between children, educators, families, environments and our community. Each relationship is as important as the next. In our kindy room, we develop strong relationships with our community through our
Another little gem
Do you remember the time you emptied your pockets excitedly to showcase the treasures you found at the park? But your parents turn to you and said, “They are just rocks, put them down. We are not taking them home!” At Pachamama our environments are surrounded with these little, and not so little, rocks because we understand
Secret buddha moments
One of the great upsides of personally developing environments at Pachamama is the opportunity to engage with interesting and clever people who supply a diverse range of services and materials. They have made the Herculean task of creating something incredible like Pachamama remotely possible. Even better is the pleasure of becoming a regular face to these new
Murano chandelier beams to the heart
My first job in childcare was in a home-based Nursery nestled in the English countryside. The home was lovely. It was small and quaint, as you would expect an English country residence to be. Children had the feeling of visiting family for the day. They played with their friends and built lasting relationships that would become significant
The iconic mojo!
Choosing one unique element of Pachamama that brings joy to my heart and a smile to my face is nearly impossible. I’ve thought about it. I can’t do it. So… I chose Pachamama as a whole. Such happiness and togetherness. The warm and fuzzy feeling of Pachamama as a whole. It’s the vibe. It’s Pachamama. It’s the
A small utopia
I must admit that I have I worked in a few other childcare services over the years. But I have never seen a place like Pachamama! Pachamama is surrounded by nature everywhere. There are so many different types of flora and fauna. It is calming and relaxing, while refreshing and invigorating at the same time. The children
Development through nature
Growing up on a farm in WA, many of my days were spent out and about in the bush land. Whether I was playing or working, the memories and smell of wildflowers and sitting on branches of tall trees had a significant impact on me. The positive impact it had on my wellbeing as a youngster will