Childcare in Bendigo
There are 90 approved childcare services in the Bendigo urban area: 33 offer long day care, 24 run a kindergarten or preschool program and 37 offer before and after school care. 24% of rated services are Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, against 18% nationally.
Highest-rated suburbs
Suburbs with at least 5 rated services, ranked by the share rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent.
| Suburb | Rated services | Exceeding or Excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Strathfieldsaye | 7 | 3 (43%) |
| Bendigo | 16 | 6 (38%) |
| White Hills | 5 | 1 (20%) |
| Epsom | 5 | 1 (20%) |
| Golden Square | 6 | 1 (17%) |
| Kangaroo Flat | 9 | 1 (11%) |
| Maiden Gully | 5 | 0 (0%) |
How the ratings work: National Quality Standard ratings explained.
Types of care in Bendigo
| Type of care | Services in Bendigo |
|---|---|
| Long day care | 33 |
| Kindergarten or preschool program | 24 |
| Family day care schemes | 1 |
| Before and after school care | 37 |
| Vacation care | 22 |
Services that offer more than one type of care are counted once for each. Family day care is counted by scheme, not by educator.
What childcare costs in Bendigo
The Department of Education publishes fees by state, not by city. Long day care in Victoria averaged $14.65 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $147 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. What a family pays after the subsidy depends on income:
| Family income | Subsidy rate | Daily gap fee |
|---|---|---|
| $80,000 | 90% | $15 |
| $120,000 | 84% | $23 |
| $180,000 | 72% | $41 |
For a 10-hour day at the Victoria average fee, one child under school age, before the 5% of the subsidy that is withheld until the year is balanced. Work out your own with the CCS calculator, or see childcare fees by state.
All suburbs in Bendigo
- Axe Creek 1
- Axedale 2
- Bendigo 16
- Bendigo South 1
- Big Hill 1
- California Gully 2
- Eaglehawk 3
- East Bendigo 1
- Epsom 5
- Flora Hill 1
- Golden Square 6
- Huntly 4
- Jackass Flat 1
- Kangaroo Flat 10
- Kennington 5
- Lockwood 1
- Lockwood South 1
- Long Gully 2
- Maiden Gully 5
- North Bendigo 4
- Quarry Hill 1
- Sailors Gully 2
- Spring Gully 2
- Strathfieldsaye 7
- Tarnagulla 1
- White Hills 5
Frequently asked questions
How many childcare centres are there in Bendigo?
There are 90 approved childcare services in the Bendigo urban area, including 33 that offer long day care and 37 that offer before and after school care. Many services offer more than one type of care.
How much does childcare cost in Bendigo?
Long day care in Victoria averaged $14.65 an hour in the June quarter 2026, about $147 for a 10-hour day before the Child Care Subsidy. A family earning $120,000 pays about $23 a day after the subsidy. Fees vary by centre, so check each service directly.
How many Bendigo childcare services are rated Exceeding?
20 of the 83 rated services in Bendigo (24%) are rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard or Excellent, compared with 18% across Australia.
Which Bendigo suburbs have the most childcare?
Bendigo (16), Kangaroo Flat (10) and Strathfieldsaye (7) have the most approved services in Bendigo.
Services and ratings: ACECQA National Registers, export of 29 October 2026. City boundary: ABS Significant Urban Area (Bendigo), ASGS Edition 3 (2021), matched to services by postcode. Fees: Department of Education, Child Care Subsidy data report, June quarter 2026.