Our Organisation

Froebel Australia is a proud not-for-profit organisation, established in Sydney in 2009 as a subsidiary of the charitable Fröbel Group, which was founded in Berlin in 1990. Today, we operate Early Learning Centres in Sydney and Melbourne for children aged 6 months to 5 years.

We are also the initiators of the Little Scientists project — a professional development program for early childhood educators and teachers. The program builds confidence in STEM education and empowers educators to actively include playful, inquiry-based scientific exploration in their everyday practice with young children.

Fröbel is Germany’s largest non-profit provider of early childhood education and care, with centres across Germany as well as in Poland and Australia. Across ten German federal states, Fröbel operates around 185 nurseries, kindergartens, after-school clubs and other educational facilities. More than 3,700 employees work together to provide high-quality education, care and support for over 16,500 children.

A unique combination of cultural and professional backgrounds shapes our organisation and inspires a vibrant educational and philosophical exchange. This diversity enriches our early childhood practice and continuously strengthens the quality of our work with children.

Board of Directors and Advisory Board

Olde Lorenzen has served as Managing Director of Froebel Australia since 2009. Prior to this role, he worked as a solicitor, barrister and chief executive in various positions in Germany.

Martine Joly, chartered accountant and tax agent, and Stefan Spieker, CEO of Fröbel’s parent organisation, are Non-Executive Directors and members of the Board.

Froebel is grateful to be supported by a committed Advisory Board:

Dr Wolfgang Babeck works as a solicitor in both Australia and Germany. He is Vice-Chairman of the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and has chaired Froebel’s Advisory Board since its foundation in 2011.
Florian Dehne is Strategy Director at Seek Employment and former Chairman of Deutsche Schule Melbourne.
Peter Tesch joined the Advisory Board in early 2015. He served as Australia’s Ambassador to Germany and has been Ambassador to Russia since 2016.

Guided by Friedrich Fröbel’s Philosophy

Our work is guided by the educational philosophy of Friedrich Fröbel, the founder of the kindergarten concept in 1837.

Fröbel was a pioneer of progressive education, a lifelong advocate for children’s rights, and a strong supporter of every child’s right to education and a protected family life. Although his name and contributions are often underestimated today, many of his educational ideas remain remarkably visionary and relevant.

At the heart of Fröbel’s philosophy is the belief that children learn best through a holistic approach that nurtures their development in close partnership with their families. His goal was to help raise responsible, capable and compassionate individuals through meaningful learning experiences and respectful relationships.