A Message From Hayley & Heath
Hayley and Heath Williams are the proud owners of Just Kids Early Education House, an early education and care service deeply grounded in both history and heart.
Their connection to Just Kids began long before ownership. In the early 1990s, Hayley commenced her teaching career as an educator within the very walls of Just Kids, teaching upstairs in what is now the Kindergarten room. In 2010, Hayley and Heath returned as owners, united by a clear vision: to honour the service’s rich legacy while thoughtfully evolving its practice for future generations.
About Hayley
Hayley is a highly respected educational leader, with a career spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, and tertiary education. Her professional experience includes St Monica’s College, Edge Hill State School, Deputy Principal at Western Cape College in Weipa, Head of Middle School at Bentley Park College, and lecturing in Education at James Cook University.
Her work is deeply informed by contemporary neuroscience, particularly the understanding that early relationships, language-rich interactions, and responsive environments play a critical role in shaping neural pathways. Hayley’s commitment to this knowledge ensures that practice at Just Kids is intentional, research-informed, and centred on supporting children’s behaviour, learning, and long-term development.
Recognised as a leader in early education and care across the Far North Queensland region, Hayley regularly presents, mentors, and works alongside educators to strengthen practice and build professional capability across the sector.
A strong advocate for lifelong learning, Hayley remains actively engaged in ongoing professional development, continually drawing on current research and emerging educational thinking to ensure the service remains contemporary, reflective, and responsive.
Together, Hayley and Heath have cultivated a service that balances strong educational leadership with a genuine sense of belonging. Heath plays a key role in supporting the operational and community aspects of the service, ensuring its day-to-day function reflects the values at its core.
Under their leadership, Just Kids Early Education House continues to be a place where children are recognised as capable and curious learners, and where every experience is valued as an opportunity to inspire a lifelong love of learning.
The JK Way
Our reputation is built on delivering the absolute highest standard of early learning for children, underpinned by a relentless commitment to best-practice pedagogy, meaningful partnerships with families, and a culture of continuous improvement through reflective practice.
Operating well above ratio each day, we provide families with the confidence and trust that their child is receiving genuine care, attention, and meaningful connection.
At Just Kids, we strive to lead with excellence—sharing our knowledge, mentoring others, and setting the benchmark for high-quality early education across our region.
Our Story
Our two-storey red brick home stands proudly in the heart of Cairns City, having welcomed children and families for over 40 years. More than just a building, it is a place of connection, history and learning. A true home away from home where generations of children have grown, explored and thrived.
This unique double-storey house, complete with its winding spiral staircase leading children upstairs, offers an experience rarely found in early childhood settings today. Alongside its large, inviting outdoor spaces, the home provides a rich and dynamic environment where children can move freely, explore and discover. With its warm, domestic feel and thoughtfully connected spaces, the environment itself becomes the third teacher—intentionally shaping children’s experiences, fostering confidence, creativity and curiosity.
Just Kids, the little red brick house, is filled with history and heart.
Within its walls lives a legacy of childhood, connection and learning, where generations of children have begun their journey and where new stories continue to unfold every day.
