Childcare in Australia
Childcare in Australia is provided by 18,231 services approved under the National Quality Framework: long day care centres, kindergartens and preschools, family day care educators, and before and after school care. Every one is listed here with its quality rating, type of care, places and contact details. Find the nearest services below, or browse by state and suburb.
Childcare by city
Popular suburbs
- Childcare in Werribee VIC
- Childcare in Tarneit VIC
- Childcare in Craigieburn VIC
- Childcare in Point Cook VIC
- Childcare in Pakenham VIC
- Childcare in Hoppers Crossing VIC
- Childcare in Blacktown NSW
- Childcare in Merrylands NSW
- Childcare in Castle Hill NSW
- Childcare in Baulkham Hills NSW
- Childcare in Orange NSW
- Childcare in Dubbo NSW
- Childcare in Toowoomba QLD
- Childcare in Caboolture QLD
- Childcare in Bundaberg QLD
- Childcare in Coomera QLD
- Childcare in Baldivis WA
- Childcare in Canning Vale WA
- Childcare in Ellenbrook WA
- Childcare in Morphett Vale SA
- Childcare in Adelaide SA
- Childcare in Gungahlin ACT
- Childcare in Sandy Bay TAS
- Childcare in Alice Springs NT
Types of childcare
Most services offer more than one type of care, so the counts overlap. Compare them in detail in types of childcare.
| Type | Services | Ages | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long day care | 9,729 | Babies to school age | A centre, usually open about 10 to 12 hours on weekdays |
| Kindergarten / preschool | 3,990 | The year or two before school | A sessional kindergarten, a school, or a program inside long day care |
| Family day care | 359 | Babies to school age, plus school-age children | An educator's home, in a small group |
| Before and after school and vacation care | 6,388 | Primary school age | Usually at or near a school |
What age can a child start childcare?
Long day care and family day care take children from birth (Queensland Government), but each service sets the youngest age it accepts, so ask the centre. Babies need 1 educator for every 4 children until 24 months in every state, so baby rooms are small and their places are the hardest to get: see childcare waitlists for when to apply. Kindergarten or preschool is for the year or two before school, and before and after school care starts in the first year of school.
What childcare costs
Long day care averaged $14.60 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $146 for a 10-hour day, before the Child Care Subsidy. A family earning $120,000 pays about $23 a day after the subsidy. See childcare fees by state or work out your own gap fee with the CCS calculator.
How to choose a childcare centre
Start with the rating: every service is assessed against the National Quality Standard, and 18% of rated services in our data are Exceeding or Excellent. A Working Towards rating is not a reason to rule a centre out, but ask what it is doing to improve. How quality ratings work.
What to look for on a tour
- How educators talk to children. Warm, unhurried responses at the child's level are the best sign of good care.
- The same faces. Ask how long the room's educators have been there; frequent changes unsettle young children.
- Play and learning. A mix of free play and planned activities, indoors and out, following the Early Years Learning Framework.
- Clean, safe spaces and visible hand washing, nappy change and sun safety routines.
- Food that suits your child's allergies and diet, with a menu you can see.
Questions to ask
- What does the fee include (meals, nappies, excursions), and what is the session length? Divide the daily fee by the session hours to compare hourly fees.
- What are the educator to child ratios in my child's room, and what qualifications do the educators hold?
- What is the illness and exclusion policy, and how are allergies and medication managed?
- How long is the waitlist, and is a deposit or holding fee charged? Getting a place.
Red flags
- Educators on phones or grouped together instead of with the children.
- Reluctance to show you every room or answer questions.
- Many children distressed or wandering without anything to do.
- Poor hygiene or broken equipment.
Frequently asked questions
How many approved childcare services are there in Australia?
kid.com.au lists 18,231 approved services from the ACECQA national register, including 9,729 that offer long day care and 6,388 that offer before and after school or vacation care.
How do I find childcare near me?
Use your location in the finder at the top of this page to see the nearest approved services with their rating, type of care, places and distance, or search a suburb, postcode or centre name.
How are childcare services rated?
Services are assessed against the National Quality Standard across 7 quality areas. Of the 17,165 rated services in our data, 18% are rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent.
What age can a child start childcare?
Long day care and family day care take children from birth, but each service sets the youngest age it accepts, so ask the centre. Kindergarten or preschool is for the year or two before school, and before and after school care starts in the first year of school.
How much does childcare cost?
Long day care averaged $14.60 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $146 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. A family earning $120,000 pays about $23 a day after the subsidy.
Service counts and ratings: ACECQA National Registers, export of 29 October 2026. Fees: Department of Education, Child Care Subsidy data report, June quarter 2026. Starting ages: Queensland Government, Comparing types of early childhood services; ratios: ACECQA. Checked 31 October 2026.