How to find childcare, kindergarten and preschool in Canberra 2026. Compare long day care costs, family day care options, and Child Care Subsidy eligibility in the ACT.
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Canberra has a competitive childcare market, particularly for children under 2 in popular districts. With Canberra's high proportion of dual-income professional households, demand for quality long day care is strong. education.act.gov.au
Types of Childcare in Canberra
Long day care: Centre-based care, typically 6:30am-6:30pm, for children 0-5
Family day care: Registered home-based carer
Preschool (ACT): The year before Kindergarten (the first year of ACT school), for children turning 4 by April 30. Available at many ACT public schools, funded at 15 hours/week
Kindergarten (ACT): In the ACT, Kindergarten is the first year of school (for children turning 5 by April 30)
What Does Childcare Cost in Canberra 2026?
Long day care daily fee: $115-$210/day, Canberra rates reflect the city's high average wages and cost of living
Family day care: $80-$130/day
ACT Preschool: ACT public school preschool programs are free for eligible children (15 hours/week)
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Apply through myGov/Centrelink before your child's first day. Canberra's higher average household incomes mean some families receive lower CCS rates than in other cities, check your specific entitlement via the CCS estimator on the Services Australia website. servicesaustralia.gov.au
This article was compiled by AI and screened before publishing. See our editorial standards.
Covering community in Canberra. This article was generated by AI, under human oversight and our editorial standards. Sensitive material is held for human review before publication. See our editorial standards.
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