Childcare and kindergarten

• Community-managed centres

  These not-for-profit centres are managed by a committee, a board or a co-operative made up of parents or guardians of children and community members. Council supplies the buildings and funding to support the running of these centres.

  Please be aware that centres may differ in their opening hours and the age range of children they accept. Visit centre websites for information.

  Register for the following centres – here

  • Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children's Centre
    85 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne 
    Phone: 03 9676 8400 
  • Clarendon Children's Centre
    410 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne 
    Phone: 03 9696 2353 
  • Eildon Road Children's Centre
    17 Eildon Road, St Kilda 
    Phone: 03 9534 7442 
  • Elwood Children's Centre
    46 Tennyson Street, Elwood 
    Phone: 03 7015 3265 
  • Poets Grove Family and Children's Centre
    18 Poets Grove, Elwood 
    Phone: 03 9209 6810 
  • The Avenue Children's Centre and Kindergarten
    39 The Avenue, Balaclava 
    Phone: 03 9527 9142

  Register for the following centres, by contacting them directly.

  • Ada Mary A'Beckett Children's Centre
    2 Batman Road, Port Melbourne
    Phone: 03 9646 1065
  • Neighborhood House (South Melbourne Childcare Co-operative)
    5 Carter Street Albert Park
    Phone: 03 9699 9257
    
    

• Not-for-profit centres

  Not-for-profit centres can also be managed by larger organisations such as Uniting or GoodStart. These centres are also assessed and rated by ACECQA, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. They run under the same educational framework and standards. Childcare subsidies also apply – Find a centre near me

• Privately owned centres

  Privately managed centres are run by a business owner for profit. These centres are also assessed and rated by ACECQA, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. They run under the same educational framework and standards. Childcare subsidies also apply – Find a centre near me 

• Family Day Care

  Family Day Care is childcare in small groups, provided by an early childhood education and care professional within their own home. Family Day Care educators, their program and the children in their care are regularly checked by the approved organisation they work for. These centres are also assessed and rated by ACECQA, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. They run under the same educational framework and standards. Childcare subsidies also apply - Find Family Day Care near me

• Check a centre's Assessment and Rating status

  There are a variety of options for early childhood education and care. All the below mentioned centres are assessed and rated by ACECQA, the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority.  

  They all run under the same educational frameworks and standards. Child Care Subsidy is available at each centre for eligible families. 

  Families are encouraged to research which type of centre will best suit their needs. (Mention of any centres here is for information purposes only and is not a recommendation or endorsement).  

  Go to StartingBlocks Find Children's Education and Care to see a centre's rating.

Kindergarten

• What are the different types of kindergarten?

  There are 2 different types of kindergarten:

  • Sessional kindergarten
  • Integrated kindergarten

  Sessional kindergarten is run in standalone kindergartens. They have set hours on set days and usually run only during school terms. Most sessional kindergarten services provide free kindergarten but may charge for excursions and other special events. Some sessional kindergartens also offer extended hours kindergarten for which they charge a fee.

  Child Care Subsidy is not available for sessional kindergarten.

  Integrated kindergarten is run in Childcare centres that provide childcare for children aged from birth to school age (actual starting age can differ). They offer integrated kindergarten programs for three-year-olds and four-year-olds. This means children could attend the same centre from birth until they go to school.

  Integrated kindergarten is subsidised by the Victorian Department of Education under their Free Kinder scheme. It is delivered during a set part of the day, within the childcare setting, by a fully qualified Kindergarten Teacher.  

  The hours either side of kindergarten sessions are not covered by the Free Kinder program so there is a cost for your child to attend for a full day. If eligible, families can access the Child Care Subsidy to help with that cost.

  All local childcare centres with integrated kindergarten are listed on our Childcare and kindergarten page. 

  Select a Victorian Government endorsed kindergarten with the Kinder Tick.

  Choosing the right kindergarten for your child depends on your needs.

  Importantly, both types:

  • provide kindergarten for 3 and 4-year-olds
  • provide free kindergarten if the service is part of the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder program
  • are taught by an Early Childhood Degree qualified teacher
  • run set hours kindergarten sessions.

• Free kindergarten

  Kindergarten in Victoria is government-subsidised. Free three and four-year-old Kindergarten is available across Victoria at participating centres at both childcare and sessional (standalone) centres. Participating kindergartens receive funding directly from the Victorian Government, so families are not out of pocket (and do not have to claim the savings back). 

  Participating kindergartens may charge an amount for extras such as incursions or excursions. See Free Kinder

  Funded kindergarten for three-year old children is a recent addition to children's education. It is being rolled out gradually to be a 15-hour-per-week program, starting two years before school.

  Four-year-old children currently attend 15 hours of funded kindergarten per week in the year before they start school. From 2025, four-year-old kindergarten is transitioning to Pre-Prep. Four-year-olds will be attending 30 hours of kindergarten weekly by 2032.

• When will my child start kindergarten?

  Kindergarten begins when your child turns 3 The timing is aligned to when your child is expected to start school. This table provides a guide. We recommend speaking with your kindergarten about the best time for your child to start 3-year-old kindergarten.

   

  Your child's birthdate is between:	Start 3-year-old kindergarten	Start 4-year-old kindergarten	Start School
  1 May 2021 to 30 April 2022	2025	2026	2027
  1 May 2022 to 30 April 2023	2026	2027	2028

   

  For more information on starting kindergarten visit Best Start, Best Life.

• Early Start Kindergarten

  Early Start Kindergarten is a program for children who meet any of these criteria:

  • Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
  • Refugee or asylum seeker background.
  • Living in out-of-home care.
  • Have had, or their family have had contact with child protection.

  A child must have turned three by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten to be eligible.

  For more information, visit Early Start Kindergarten.

• The Kinder Tick

  Services with the Kinder Tick:

  • are led by a qualified teacher
  • use play-based learning
  • are funded and approved by the Victorian Government
  • run a program that complies with government guidelines and the National Quality Framework.

  All the services listed on our childcare and kindergarten pages have the Kinder Tick.

  Find a Kinder Tick service.

• Community-managed sessional kindergartens

  All the services listed below have the Kinder Tick.

  To register contact the following kindergartens directly.

  • Albert Park Kinder
    18 Dundas Place, Albert Park
    Phone: 03 8672 9981
  • Bubup Womindjeka Family and Children's Centre
    85 Liardet Street, Port Melbourne
    Phone: 03 9676 8400
    Email: info@bwfcc.org.au
  • Civic Kindergarten
    256 Richardson Street, Middle Park
    Phone: 0403 097 244
  • Lady Forster Kindergarten
    63b Ormond Esplanade, Elwood
    Phone: 03 9531 6812
  • Lilian Cannam Kindergarten
    97 Eastern Road, South Melbourne
    Phone: 03 9699 3695
  • Middle Park Kindergarten
    131 Mills Street, Middle Park
    Phone: 03 9690 1220

• Not-for-profit kindergartens

  To register contact the following kindergartens directly.

  • Port Phillip Specialist Pre-School
    Corner of Nott St and Poole St, Port Melbourne
    Email: port.phillip.ss@edumail.vic.gov.au
  • Port Melbourne Uniting Care Kindergarten
    144 Bridge Street, Port Melbourne
    Phone: 1800 183 103

• Independent sessional kindergartens

  To register contact the following kindergartens directly.

  • St Michael's Kindergarten
    8-12 Marlton Crescent, St Kilda
    Phone: 03 8530 3320
  • Wesley College Early Learning Centre
    625 St Kilda Road, St Kilda
    Phone: 03 8102 6108
  • Yesodei Ha Torah College
    39 Dickens Street, Elwood
    Phone: 9531 3203