Global Sky adds Southport childcare centre to Queensland community investments

Global Sky Group has expanded its Queensland community sector investments, announcing today the opening of its second childcare facility on the Gold Coast.

Managing Director Ko Nagata said the Tokyo-based company had established the Southport Child Care Centre at 190-200 Scarborough Street, Southport, previously trading as Little Feet. The new centre adds to Global Sky’s Robina Town Child Care Centre, which has been operating since January 2014.

“Global Sky is pleased to welcome Southport Child Care Centre to its portfolio of Queensland-related community investments spanning childcare to business centres, extending from the Gold Coast to Tokyo,” Mr Nagata said.

“Our latest investment aims to share knowledge and technologies from Japan, while preserving the centre’s strong community ties and values. As a company committed to sustainable development, we are focused on generating liveable communities in which childcare plays a critical role.”

Similar to the company’s Robina childcare acquisition, all current staff will be maintained, including its Japanese-speaking staff, with Quality Child Care Management director, Katrina Pridmore, serving as the local manager.

“Global Sky has demonstrated its commitment to providing quality care, and the same values of ensuring the highest standard of care and support will be implemented at the new centre,” Ms Pridmore said.

“I welcome the opportunity to assist with the growth of Global Sky’s childcare investments in Queensland, given the company’s focus on placing children, families and staff at the centre of its operations.”

The Southport Child Care Centre will cater for children from six weeks old to prep ages, providing high-quality childhood education and care in a nurturing and friendly environment.

Already Australia’s sixth-largest city, the Gold Coast’s population is expected to reach 730,000 by 2026, resulting in increasing demand for childcare services. In Japan, moves by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to expand childcare support and enhance English-language learning has created growing interest in potential collaborations with overseas centres.

“Global Sky intends to foster tie-ups with Japanese childcare centres as part of its push to deepen Queensland-Japan ties. A number of Japanese childcare workers will receive training at our Gold Coast centres, while we will continue the current Japanese lessons taught to children at the Southport centre, as part of our intercultural communication efforts,” Mr Nagata said.

With operations spanning environmental engineering, property and community businesses in Australia and Japan, Global Sky is actively working to foster stronger links between the two nations. In March, the company’s Queensland Business Centre in Kamiyacho, Tokyo celebrated its first anniversary, announcing plans to further support Queensland SMEs through marketing and e-commerce initiatives.

“The special relationship between Australia and Japan continues to gain momentum, aided by this year’s signing of the Japan-Australia Economic Partnership Agreement. Global Sky is focused on strengthening ties from business to community engagement across a range of fields, capitalising on the opportunities available in Japan as Australia’s second-largest trading partner and world’s third-biggest economy,” Mr Nagata said.