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Childcare in Wollongong

Compare Services, Fees & Quality

Finding the best childcare in the Wollongong region (including surrounding suburbs such as Shellharbour, Kiama and the Illawarra) can feel overwhelming — with different service types, fee structures, wait-lists and quality ratings. This guide puts everything in one place so you can quickly compare your local options, understand costs and subsidies, and feel confident about your choice.

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Childcare in Wollongong

Childcare in Wollongong – What childcare options are available?

  • Long Day Care (LDC): Full-day programs for babies through to preschool age; ideal for working families who need consistent hours.
  • Preschool/Kindergarten: Usually 2–3 days per week during school terms; focussed on preparing children for school.
  • Family Day Care (FDC): Small group care in an educator’s home; offers flexible hours and a home-style setting.
  • Outside School Hours Care (OSHC): For school-aged children — before & after school, as well as during school holidays.

Tip: If you need extended hours now, and a school-readiness focus later, some families combine LDC (for hours) with Preschool (for focussed learning) in the year before school.

Childcare in Wollongong – Fees, costs and the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

Most families in Wollongong will be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which will reduce your out-of-pocket fees based on household income, hours of work/study, and service type.
Out-of-pocket cost = hourly fee – (CCS% × hourly cap up to limit)
Your actual fee depends on the service’s hourly rate, your CCS percentage, and how many hours you use. Keep an eye out: some services charge above the government hourly cap — you’ll need to pay the difference.

Helpful links:

Childcare in Wollongong – Quality & learning: what to look for

All approved services operate under the National Quality Framework (NQF) and are rated against the National Quality Standard (NQS) across seven areas (education program & practice; children’s health & safety; physical environment; staffing arrangements; relationships with children; collaborative partnerships with families & communities; leadership & service management). Many local services use the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) to guide play-based, inclusive programs centred on belonging, being and becoming.

Childcare in Wollongong - Wollongong harbour looking toward the Illawarra Escarpment

Wollongong

Population: 313,324

Median age: 39

0–4 yrs: 15,494 (4.8%)

Median weekly household income: $1,682

Languages (after English): Mandarin, Macedonian, Arabic, Italian, Spanish

What this means:

University and health precincts shape demand; infant places and CBD-adjacent centres can book out—consider FDC for flexibility.

Shellharbour

Population: 76,271

Median age: 39

0–4 yrs: 4,591 (6.0%)

Median weekly household income: $1,647

Languages (after English): Macedonian, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Greek

What this means:

Family-oriented suburbs with healthy 0–4 cohort—expect steady LDC demand and value in centres offering meals and vacation care links.

Kiama

Population: 23,074

Median age: 48

0–4 yrs: 1,149 (5.0%)

Median weekly household income: $1,884

Languages (after English): Italian, German, Spanish, Greek, French

What this means:

Smaller, older-skewing LGA; infant places can still be competitive—check mixed models (LDC + sessional preschool) for school transition.

How to use this information: Under-five share and commuting patterns signal demand for full-day care and OSHC. Compare inclusions and hours against your CCS estimate to find true out-of-pocket costs.

Childcare in Wollongong – How to choose: a quick checklist for centre visits

Before you go:

  • Short-list 3–5 services close to home/work.
  • Check NQS rating, opening hours, fees and inclusions; confirm wait-list steps.

During the tour:

  • Ask how the curriculum follows the EYLF and how children’s interests shape planning.
  • Look for warm, responsive educator-child interactions and a calm, organised environment.
  • Confirm staff-to-child ratios, educator qualifications, allergy management and sun/water safety.

After the visit:

  • Compare daily rhythm (meals, naps), communication apps, family engagement, transition-to-school practices.
  • Re-check fees against your CCS estimate and ask about bond/deposit terms.

Childcare in Wollongong – FAQs

TL;DR – Find childcare in Wollongong:

  • Compare LDC, Preschool, FDC and OSHC options across Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Illawarra region.
  • Use the CCS to reduce your fees; estimate your subsidy before you commit.
  • Check NQS ratings and EYLF-aligned programs for quality and learning.
  • The local demographics show a steady under-five cohort and working-age families — expect demand in many areas, so join wait-lists early for popular days.
    Start here: 👉 Wollongong Childcare Directory

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