SDN Children's Services

SDN Children's Services is an Australian not-for-profit organisation that has been providing quality services for children and families for over 120 years. Originally known as the Sydney Day Nursery Association, its first centre opened in 1905. The association was formed by a group of women from Sydney's affluent inner suburbs who recognised the dire need among working mothers—often sole breadwinners—for safe and reliable child care. One of the founding women was Marguerite Fairfax, connected to the famous media family through her marriage to Dr Wilfred Fairfax. Other founding women, such as Linda Littlejohn (née Teece), had strong affiliations with the women's movement, while early committee member Dorothea Mackellar shared the concerns of her father, Sir Charles Mackellar, who had chaired a Royal Commission in 1904 on the alarmingly high infant mortality rate in NSW. Today, SDN operates early learning and preschool centres, family support programs, and early childhood intervention services. Its centres are described as the home of play-based education, where the whole child is seen and supported to grow caring hearts, healthy bodies and curious minds in safe and nurturing environments. SDN's vision is for an equitable world where all children thrive, as articulated in its Strategic Plan 2024-28. The organisation also has a strategy for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, called Ngara Nanga Mai. SDN is headquartered in Sydney, New South Wales, and operates across Australia. It is a not-for-profit organisation, governed by a board, and publishes annual reports and financial statements. Recent developments include the opening of SDN Bluebell early learning centre and preschool in Gold Creek, Nicholls, and enrolment for 2026 is now open. SDN continues to provide a range of services including early learning and preschool, family support, and early childhood intervention, with a focus on inclusive and supportive community.

SDN Children's Services, originally known as the Sydney Day Nursery Association, was founded in 1905 by a group of women from Sydney's affluent inner suburbs. These women recognised the dire need among working mothers, who were often the sole breadwinners for their families, for safe and reliable child care. At the time, families in Australia had very limited options for child care. Some working mothers left their children with relatives or friends, or in the care of older siblings—which often meant girls had to drop out of school early. Children were left unattended on the streets, or locked inside their homes with food and water. Some mothers had no choice but to give their children up to institutions. The founders of the Sydney Day Nursery Association were young and determined women from families well connected with Sydney's business, legal and medical networks, who shared a strong social conscience. One of the founding women was Marguerite Fairfax, connected to the famous media family through her marriage to Dr Wilfred Fairfax. Other founding women, such as Linda Littlejohn (née Teece), had strong affiliations with the women's movement, while early committee member Dorothea Mackellar shared the concerns of her father, Sir Charles Mackellar, who had chaired a Royal Commission in 1904 on the alarmingly high infant mortality rate in NSW. The commitment of the founders to directly assist fellow women working in impoverished areas of inner Sydney was considered a somewhat radical idea at the time. Over the decades, SDN expanded its services beyond child care to include preschool programs, family support, and early childhood intervention. The organisation has been providing quality services for children and families for over 120 years. It has published several histories, including 'For the little ones the best – SDN Children's Services 1905-2005' (2013), 'The Nursery School Teacher's College – A life history' (2015), 'This spirit of unity – the SDN team' (2016), 'Children, a life interest – a biography of Joan Fry OBE' (2016), 'Children first and foremost – A history of SDN's disability services' (2025), and 'Breaking Down Barriers - A history of integrated service delivery at SDN Children's Services 1905-2025'. In recent years, SDN has continued to grow, opening new centres such as SDN Bluebell in Gold Creek, Nicholls. The organisation remains a not-for-profit, governed by a board, and publishes annual reports and financial statements. Its strategic plan for 2024-28 sets out its vision for an equitable world where all children thrive.

• 2025

  SDN Bluebell early learning centre and preschool opened in Gold Creek, Nicholls.

• 2024

  Strategic Plan 2024-28 published.

• 2005

  100th anniversary of SDN Children's Services.

• 1905

  First centre opened by the Sydney Day Nursery Association.

Not-for-profit provider of inclusive, play-based early childhood education and family services.

• Early Learning & Preschool

  Play-based education in safe and nurturing environments.

• Family Support

  Programs to support families and children.

• Early Childhood Intervention

  Services for children with developmental needs.

1. 1SDN Children's Services—Your Child, Supported By Our Villagesdn.org.au
2. 2Discover Our 120+ Year Old History | SDN Children's Servicessdn.org.au
3. 3SDN's corporate publicationssdn.org.au
4. 4Servicessdn.org.au
5. 5ZTE wins 5G Excellence Award at the SDN/NFV World Congressprnewswire.com