Abermain - Tillys Play & Development Centre

Tillys Play and Development Centre at Abermain was established in 1996 and is a 28 place long day care centre which has been refurbished from a historic church building that pays respects to its traditional and historical features. Abermain is nestled within the Hunter Valley only 10 minutes from Cessnock.

Tillys at Abermain caters for children aged between 3-6 years and is open for 50 weeks of the year from 7:00am-6:00pm. Our mission at Abermain is to deliver high quality care to all children and to deliver the best educational program by incorporating a Transition to School Program into our service, as well as running a play based program allowing children choice and flexibility. The service has formed great partnerships within its community and works very closely with the local schools in conjunction with their Transition to School program. Having this close relationship with the local schools, principal and teachers assists with the progression of learning involved for children when preparing for school, and ensures the Transition to School Program is ever evolving with the changes within the school curriculum. We’ve built strong connections with our local community, including nearby businesses and the local fire station. We love welcoming community members into our centre to enrich our programs, share their knowledge, and foster a sense of belonging and partnership.

The service has a beautiful large established outdoor playground which offers natural play spaces and a variety of man-made resources and equipment for children to engage in. It encompasses its own working veggie garden, where children can enjoy tending to our very own veggie garden — caring for the plants, watching them grow, and even picking and tasting the fresh produce they’ve helped nurture!

At Tillys Abermain, we offer a lunchbox service, inviting families to pack a nutritious lunch and healthy snacks for their child. We’re passionate about healthy eating and believe in giving children the best start by encouraging good food habits from an early age. Our educators support this by engaging children in conversations about making healthy choices, exploring where food comes from, and learning about the benefits of different foods through hands-on activities like cooking, gardening, and group discussions. We aim to inspire a positive attitude toward healthy eating that children can carry with them for life. You can find more information on how to pack a nutritious lunch at the centre, via Munch and Move, or click here for a helpful resource.

The centre prides itself on being an inclusive early childhood service and enjoys allowing all children and families to participate in our program despite race, culture and abilities. Everyone is welcome at Tillys Abermain.

At our 2025 Annual Awards Ceremony on Saturday 8th February, celebrating our educators for 2024, Tillys Abermain and it’s educators were nominated as finalists and won a number of awards for their excellence and dedication to Early Childhood Education and Care. These include: