Queensland childcare fees: Compare what you pay to other suburbs

Parents facing soaring childcare fees are being urged to question where their money is going. See the state’s priciest and cheapest centres.

Seven out of the top 10 most expensive suburbs for child care are within 15km of Brisbane’s CBD, with one centre charging an eye watering $200 a day.

Offering yoga, mindfulness and Mandarin classes for older kids, the most expensive daycare centre in the state is the “bespoke early learning centre” Habitat Early Learning Nundah, where parents pay $200 a day for infants under 12 months.

However, Surfers Paradise is officially the most expensive suburb in the state, with parents paying on average $162 a day for long day care, exclusive data reveals.

KindiCare founder Benjamin Balk. Picture: Supplied

In comparison, Winton, in Central West Queensland – a 16 hour drive from Brisbane – is the cheapest suburb in the state with an average long day care fee of $70.

Benjamin Balk, founder and CEO of comparison app KindiCare, produced the data and said he expects some figures to increase even further in the next few weeks, as not all childcare centres have updated their fee increases yet.

“The data shows fees are going up across all states and territories, but that parents in Sydney and Melbourne are being slugged the hardest,” Mr Balk said.

“Even in Queensland, we are seeing boutique centres charging $200 a day.”

He said he could see why some parents are cynical about some of the high mid-year fee rises coinciding with subsidy increases, but the majority of providers he’s spoken to are just trying to cover costs.

Chief executive of campaign group Parenthood Georgie Dent said fee increases of between seven and nine per cent are reasonable.

“Fee increases in this vicinity mean that almost all families will still be better off when the changes kick in,” Ms Dent wrote in a letter to supporters.

“But providers squeezing parents by putting fees up by more than 10 per cent is beyond the pale.”

Chief executive of campaign group Parenthood Georgie Dent with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Seb Haggett

Georgina Brodie, 39, said her three-year-old daughter Lola’s fees are $165 a day and 10-month old Edward’s are $172.

Her and husband Matthew’s $1000 a week out-of-pocket childcare costs should reduce to around $800 when the changes come in.

However, Ms Brodie said because their fees are higher than the subsidy cap, they will have to stomach any further increases.

“We are being really frugal because we expect fee increases in January,” Ms Brodie, who works in PR, said.

“I’ve compressed my work days into four to save a day of childcare and we’ve cancelled subscriptions, including Netflix and our gym memberships.”

Georgina Brodie children, Lola, 3, and Edward, 10 months. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Ms Brodie says her family is being frugal in case fees increase again. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Minister for Education Jason Clare said it was common for childcare centres to increase their fees at this time of year, but under the reforms, most family’s out-of-pocket costs will still go down.

He said the changes will benefit 1.2 million families and for those on a combined income of $80,000 or less, the Child Care Subsidy rate will lift to 90 per cent.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare visits The Learning Sanctuary with Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace in Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

Calculations by Goodstart found that at the moment the out-of-pocket costs for their parents on a combined income of $125,000 after they’ve received the subsidy are about $43 a day. The changes will see that drop to about $27 a day for those parents.

Australia’s competition regulator has also been tasked with investigating factors that drive up fees.

Habitat Early Learning Nundah has been approached for comment.

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