About Us
A proudly Australian-owned and operated childcare centre, Kindoo is committed to providing a safe, enriching environment where your little ones can learn, grow, and discover their full potential.
Our Story
After unexpectedly finding herself a widow with two children, Kindoo founder Martina Dunkel faced the challenge of balancing her role as a hands-on mother with the need for affordable, high-quality childcare. Not satisfied with her existing options—expensive extended care and limited sessional classes— Martina saw an opportunity to create a solution for herself.
Drawing on her experience running businesses, Martina founded Kindoo. Her goal was to provide a nurturing environment where children receive exceptional care, and their families are supported by a community of like-minded individuals.
Our Values
At Kindoo, we understand the importance of peace of mind and ensuring that every child receives the care and support they need to get the best start in life. That’s why it’s our priority to provide Ferntree Gully families with childcare that is:
- Affordable: We know how difficult it is to find quality child care at an affordable price. At Kindoo we strive to keep our rates competitive without compromising our quality of care.
- Flexible: We provide families with the ability to change their bookings each week and the flexibility to access both casual and emergency bookings when needed.
- Industry Compliant: At Kindoo, we pride ourselves on our strict adherence to all industry health and safety policies to ensure the safety of your children.
- Tailored: Our learning programs are personalised to meet each child's goals and developmental needs. We take into account their interests to create an environment where they can flourish.
Our Learning Programs
All Kindoo learning programs are based on the Early Years Development Framework and delivered by degree-qualified professionals. What’s more, they’ve been thoughtfully developed and specifically designed to meet the early learning requirements and developmental goals of each age group—ranging from six-month-olds to six-year-olds.
Our curriculum aims to provide children with fun and enriching experiences that foster their love for learning and build the foundational skills needed for a smooth transition to primary school. More than just academics, we also focus on your little one’s social and emotional skills using the most up-to-date teaching practices and approaches. This way, you can have peace of mind knowing your little one is in good hands.
Our Centre Director -
Janine Pfeifer
With over 2 decades of experience in the education sector, I’ve had the privilege of supporting young people, children and their families across diverse communities and learning settings.
As a Centre Director and Educational Leader, I bring a trauma-informed lens to every aspect of my practice — recognising the importance of safety, connection, and emotional regulation in early learning environments.
I hold a Graduate Diploma of Teaching and an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management, qualifications that have equipped me to lead classrooms and teams with compassion, create inclusive and responsive programs, and advocate for children’s rights and wellbeing.
My teaching philosophy is grounded in the belief that every child is capable, worthy, and deeply individual — and that the most powerful learning happens when children feel safe, seen, and supported. I prioritise building warm, attuned relationships, scaffolding children’s social-emotional development, and co-creating environments that honour identity, culture, and neurodiversity.
I value strong partnerships with families and the wider community, and believe collaboration is key to supporting children’s holistic development. Through reflective leadership and ongoing professional development, I stay committed to embedding current research, best practices, and healing-centred approaches into all aspects of service delivery.
Ultimately, I aim to foster a culture where children, educators, and families feel empowered — and where learning is not just an outcome, but a lifelong, relational journey.
Book in a Tour Today!
If you have any questions or would like to request a tour, please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Fill out the form on our contact page or give us a call; we’ll be more than happy to help!
Areas We Serve
At Kindoo Childcare, we proudly serve families in Ferntree Gully and the surrounding suburbs, offering high-quality childcare and early learning programs. Our conveniently located centre provides a nurturing and engaging environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive. We welcome families from nearby areas, including, Boronia, Wantirna, Rowville, Bayswater, Lysterfield, Scoresby, The Basin, Belgrave, and Upwey.