Brisbane Childcare and Kindergarten Guide 2026 — How to Find Childcare in Brisbane

Brisbane Childcare and Kindergarten 2026 — Overview

Queensland provides strong early childhood education support — free kindergarten (kindy) for 4-year-olds, the national Child Care Subsidy and a growing childcare network across Greater Brisbane's rapidly expanding suburbs. Here's what Brisbane families need to know.

Types of Childcare and Early Education in Queensland

• Long Day Care (LDC) — Full-day centres for children 6 weeks to 5 years. Eligible for CCS.
• Family Day Care (FDC) — Home-based care. More flexible and often more affordable than LDC.
• Kindergarten (Kindy) — Queensland's Free Kindy — Queensland provides 15 hours of free kindergarten per week for 4-year-olds in the year before school Prep. Both government kindy programs and approved LDC centres can deliver the free kindy program. qld.gov.au/families/babies/childcare-kindy
• Prep (School Entry) — Queensland's Prep year (the first year of school) is compulsory for children turning 5 by 30 June in the calendar year. qld.gov.au/education

Child Care Subsidy

The CCS is available for all approved childcare in Brisbane. Apply via: servicesaustralia.gov.au/child-care-subsidy. Maximum 90% for families under $80,000 combined income.

Finding Childcare in Brisbane

• Childcare Finder — childcarefinder.gov.au
• Goodstart Early Learning — Large Brisbane network. goodstart.org.au
• C&K (Childcare and Kindergarten) — Queensland's largest not-for-profit childcare and kindergarten provider. candk.asn.au

Brisbane Childcare Costs and Waiting Lists

Brisbane is more affordable than Sydney and Melbourne — average LDC rates $110-$160/day before CCS. Waiting lists are significant in rapidly growing areas (Newstead, Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane, Springfield and Ripley Valley) — join waiting lists early, ideally during pregnancy.

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