50 best and worst childcare centres in Brisbane’s richest suburbs

They’re Brisbane’s wealthiest suburbs – but when it comes to childcare these cashed-up locations may not be delivering bang for their buck. SEE THE LIST

They’re Brisbane’s most affluent suburbs – but when it comes to childcare these cashed-up locations may not be delivering bang for their buck.

The Courier-Mail has investigated the performance of 50 childcare centres based in the opulent suburbs of Chapel Hill, Brisbane Airport, Alderley, Wavell Heights, Brisbane City, The Gap, Clayfield, Norman Park, New Farm and Hawthorne.

Those 10 suburbs were in November 2024 revealed to be the locations with the most spare cash flow, according to the Spare Cash Flow and Financial Opportunity Index by investment platform Betashares.

When it comes to those 10 suburbs only Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill Community Preschool and Kindergarten Assoc) and Brisbane Airport (Journey Early Learning Centre Brisbane Airport) had a childcare centre that score a top rating of Outstanding.

The results from the KindiCare Quality Index, which rated 17,680 childcare services across Australia and were revealed in November 2024, are based on the results of official government inspections, as well as online reviews.

Wavell Heights had three centres – Wavell Heights Kindergarten, Penola Casa and Building Futures Montessori – secure an Excellent rating.

However the news wasn’t so good for Clayfield.

While Wagner Road Early Childhood Centre & Kindergarten scored Excellent, six others – St Agatha’s Outside School Hours Care, Lyndhurst Early Learning Centre 1, Guardian Childcare & Education Clayfield, Clayfield Early Learning Centre, Goodstart Early Learning Clayfield and Clayfield Outside Of School Hours Care – were handed Good ratings.

Jabiru Ascot, also in Clayfield, and Wavell Outside School Hours Care were the only two in the 50 centres reviewed to score Fair, the lowest rating.

Curiosity Tree The Gap and Bilingual By Five Brisbane were not rated.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk said centres with a rating of ‘fair’ typically provided early learning services that were well below the national average. Picture: Supplied

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk said subscribers to his platform are treated equally with all other services in the KindiCare Quality Index and do not receive any boost as part of the rating process.

“The KindiCare Rating is based on publicly available information including previous and current assessment and ratings under the national quality framework from Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority as well as reviews provided by families on KindiCare direct as well as Google reviews,” Mr Balk said at the time of the latest ratings release in November 2024.

He added that the average inspection rate is every two years and 11 months. The KindiCare rating degrades over time after three years, rewarding those that have regular inspections.

Services can request an inspection, although they may have to wait, especially in remote or rural areas.

KINDICARE RATINGS EXPLAINED

Outstanding

Scored 9.5 and above, and in the top 3 per cent nationally.

Excel in environment, culture, educators and curriculum.

Excellent

Score 9-9.5. Very high quality education and care.

Consistent high feedback. Only 11.5 per cent of services achieve this category.

Very good

Score 8.5-9. Very good parent feedback. 97 per cent of services meet or exceed the national quality standard.

Good

Score 7.5-8.5. Typically meet national quality standards in all or most areas.

Fair

Score 5-7.5. Services often have limited or poor reviews from families. Sometimes a

new centre’s first review.

Poor

Score 5 and below. Limited or poor family reviews.

Not Rated

Operating less than three years and have yet to be formally assessed.

Source: KindiCare

Originally published as 50 best and worst childcare centres in Brisbane’s richest suburbs