Choosing childcare is one of the bigger decisions you’ll make as a parent, and in parts of Melbourne’s north, places fill up fast. Here’s a practical guide to the types of care available, how to compare services and what to ask before you enrol.
Know the types of care
- Long day care: centre-based care, usually open around 10 to 12 hours a day, for children from babies up to school age. Many centres also run a funded kindergarten program.
- Family day care: care for a small group of children in an educator’s own home. It can suit families who want a home-like setting or more flexible hours.
- Kindergarten: funded 3-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old Kinder programs, run by standalone kindergartens and many long day care centres.
- Outside school hours care: before school, after school and holiday programs for primary school children.
Check the service’s quality rating
Most long day care, family day care, kindergarten and outside school hours care services are assessed against the National Quality Standard. You can look up a service’s rating, fees and vacancies on Starting Blocks, the Australian Government’s childcare search site. A rating is a useful starting point, but nothing beats visiting in person.
Understand the costs
Most families can get the Child Care Subsidy for approved care, which reduces the fees you pay. You apply through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. In Victoria, Free Kinder covers funded 3-Year-Old and 4-Year-Old Kinder at participating services. At a standalone kindergarten there are no compulsory fees for the funded program, and at a long day care centre you get an annual fee offset on your bill.
Join waitlists early
In fast-growing suburbs like Craigieburn, Wollert, Mernda and Donnybrook, places for babies and toddlers can be hard to find. Put your name down at a few services well before you need care. Some charge a small waitlist fee.
Questions worth asking on a visit
- How many educators are in each room, and how long have they been there?
- What does a typical day look like for my child’s age group?
- Are meals provided, and how do you handle allergies and dietary needs?
- How do you keep parents updated during the day?
- What are the fees, and what’s included?
- Do you run a funded kinder program, and is it part of Free Kinder?
Childcare and early learning across the north
Here are some of the services listed on Local Business Near Me, by suburb:
- Preston: Nara Community Early Learning Centre and Wood Street Childcare Centre
- Coburg: Shirley Robertson Children’s Centre and Kids on the Avenue Children’s Centre
- Greensborough: Little Penguin Early Learning and Gumboots Early Learning
- Essendon: Villa Bambini Early Learning Centre and My Stars Essendon Early Learning Centre
- Epping: Oakbrook Kindergarten
- South Morang: Guardian Childcare & Education and Paradise Kids Children’s Centre
Tutoring and after-school learning
For older kids, the same category includes tutoring and learning centres such as Reading Bees Epping and Kumon Wollert Education Centre. In Victoria, anyone working with children, including private tutors, generally needs a Working with Children Check, so it’s fair to ask to see one.
Browse all childcare and tutoring listings and pick your suburb to compare services near you.
Run a childcare or tutoring service?
If your service isn’t listed yet, you can add it for free. Every listing gets the same features, with no paid plans or upgrades. If it’s already listed, claim it to keep your details and hours up to date.
