Our Story

Born in Sydney. Built on a belief that every child can thrive.

MindChamps started with a simple question: what if we taught
children how to learn, not just what to learn? Over 25 years later, that question has grown into a global movement – and it all began right here in Australia.

Where It All Began

From a Sydney research centre to a global education movement

MindChamps was founded in Sydney in 1998 – not as a childcare centre, but as an educational research organisation.

Our founder, David Chiem, saw that traditional education focused on what children learn, but rarely taught them how to learn. It didn’t nurture confidence, creativity or resilience. And it certainly didn’t help children discover what made them unique.

So he set out to build something different. He brought together world- leading experts in education, psychology, neuroscience and the arts – not to tweak the existing system, but to rethink it from the ground up.

What started as a research project in Sydney has since grown into a network of early learning centres across Australia, Singapore, the US and around the world. But our mission has never changed: to give every child the mindset and skills to reach their full potential.

Our Journey

MindChamps was founded as an educational research organisation, not a childcare centre.

2002 Curriculum Development

The 3-Mind philosophy and S.M.I.L.E.S. methodology were developed with world-leading experts.

2008 First Centre Opens

The first MindChamps Early Learning centre opens, bringing research to practice.

2015 International Expansion

MindChamps expands across Asia, bringing our approach to more families worldwide.

2020 Return to Australia

MindChamps brings its global expertise back to Australia, strengthening early learning opportunities for families nationwide.

Today A Global Movement

A network of centres worldwide, all guided by the same mission and values.

Our Approach

A different way of learning

Everything we do at MindChamps is built around developing three interconnected ways of thinking –
what we call the Champion Mind, the Learning Mind and the Creative Mind.

Together, they help children develop confidence in themselves, effective strategies for learning, and the creativity to solve problems and generate new ideas. It’s not about drilling facts or preparing for tests. It’s about giving children the mindset and skills to thrive – in school and in life.

Learn more about our approach

Our Philosophy

100% Respect, Zero Fear

A safe space to learn, grow and be themselves

If you’ve ever watched a toddler try something new, you’ve seen fearless learning in action. They fall, they get up, they try again. They’re not worried about being judged or getting it wrong.

Somewhere along the way, many children lose that fearlessness. They become afraid of making mistakes, of looking silly, of not being good enough. And when fear takes over, learning suffers.

At MindChamps, we’ve built our entire culture around a simple philosophy: 100% Respect, Zero Fear.

Every child is respected

For who they are, how they learn and what makes them unique. We don’t compare children to each other or push them to fit a mould.

Mistakes are part of learning

Not something to be embarrassed about. We celebrate effort, curiosity and the courage to try – not just the “right” answer.

Children feel safe to express

When children know their thoughts and feelings are respected, they’re more confident to ask questions, share ideas and explore who they are.

Real learning happens

When children feel respected and free from fear, they’re willing to take risks, try new things and push beyond what they thought they could do.

World-Class Advisory Team

The values that guide everything we do

Every decision we make – from how we design our programmes to how we train our
educators – begins with one non-negotiable principle: children’s safety and wellbeing
come first. Always.

Child Safety Is Everyone's Responsibility

Safeguarding is not optional or role-specific. Every member of our team shares responsibility for protecting the children in our care.

We Build a Strong Child-Safe Culture

We actively promote and recruit for a workforce that believes in child safety as deeply as we do.

We Uphold Robust Protection Policies

Strict child protection and mandatory reporting procedures guide our actions. These policies are clear and consistently applied.

We Maintain Professional Boundaries

Respectful, child-safe interactions are at the heart of our practice, creating trust and emotional safety.

We Ensure Safe Physical Environments

Regular audits, detailed risk assessments and careful oversight ensure every environment is safe and well-maintained.

We Empower Children's Voices

Children deserve to be heard, respected and taken seriously. We create a culture where children feel safe to speak up.

We Protect Children's Privacy

We handle digital images and personal information with the highest level of care and strict regard for privacy.

We Pursue Excellence

Safety is the foundation, but excellence is the standard. We continually refine our programmes because children deserve nothing less.

We Are Building Something Bigger

MindChamps is more than an organisation – it is a movement to raise the standard of early childhood education everywhere.

Book a Tour at MindChamps

Join a tour to see why MindChamps is perfect for your child. Experience our nurturing environment, innovative curriculum, and dedicated staff, and get your questions answered in person.