TOP 10: Tasmania’s costliest and cheapest childcare centres revealed

A Mercury investigation has revealed the cheapest and most expensive childcare centres and how they rate, as staff members reveal which centres will see a fee rise this year. HOW YOUR CENTRE STACKS UP >>

Deciding on the right childcare can be a critical decision for a parent to make.

As well as location, environment and quality of care, cost is a factor that families have to take into account.

Although Tasmania offers some of the cheapest childcare in the country, fees are skyrocketing to $30,000 a year and families in some regions are being slugged 70 per cent more for the same high-quality care.

Launceston families are copping the highest fees in the state, with Green Leaves charging $132 for long day care services and averaging at $115 for daily care at other centres in the region.

Twenty kilometres south, fees are the lowest in Australia with Perth Child Care charging just $73 a day.

While most local centres decided not to increase their fees last year as the nation plunged into a coronavirus-induced recession, a few across the state will once again begin to raise their prices into the new financial year as the cost of living rises.

Following a recent analysis by childcare app, Kindicare, the Mercury compared the costs of centres across the state.

CHEAPEST

Perth Childcare Centre $73/day (Kindicare rating 8.4)

Situated in the small town of Perth in the Northern Midlands, Perth Childcare Centre offers the cheapest long day care service in Tasmania for just $73.

The centre cares for only 20 children and boasts a “very good” Kindicare rating for its education and classroom environment.

Alexander Beetle House – Burnie.

Alexander Beetle House $74.50/day (Kindicare rating 9.2)

Established in the 1970s on Alexander Street in Burnie, the Alexander Beetle House is one of 15 centres run by Discovery Early Learning Centres across the state.

The facility’s daily rates for care start at just $74.50 for children up to five-years-old. The centre employs a fully-qualified chef and local music therapist.

Toddler Inn – Deloraine.

Toddler Inn Childcare Centre $77.50/day (Kindicare rating is 8.7)

Community-based childcare centre Toddler Inn at Deloraine was established just over two decades ago and offers long day care for $77.50 to a mostly rural-based clientele of 50 children.

“A local mum started it as a daycare in a little house and then a committee was formed and funds were raised to build the centre on council land,” explained staff member Gertraud Crowden.

Toddler Inn – Deloraine.

Ms Crowden said the small team takes pride in their quality of care and reasonable prices, however the centre will be looking to increase their fees by the end of the year.

“As we are a not-for-profit centre and we aren’t privately owned we can offer lower prices, however they will be going up shortly,” she said.

“We do try and get them to go up every 12 months or so, so then it’s not such a shock for parents but because of Covid last year we haven’t been able to increase them until now.”

Spring Bay Child Care Centre.

Spring Bay Child Care Centre $78.80/day (Kindicare rating 7.5)

Triabunna’s only local daycare, Spring Bay Child Care Centre cares for just 20 children at a rate of $78.80 each for long day care.

For director Chelsea Cai, affordability is important.

“There are quite a few single parents in the region and for some the decision to enrol their children into care is difficult due to the price.”

Ms Cai said the centre is almost always full and will also look to increase prices into the next financial year.

Breaking News Breaking News Giggles Early Learning Centre

Giggles Early Learning $85/day (Kindicare rating 8.4)

Opening in 2009 in the far northwest at Smithton, Giggles Early Learning is run by childcare educator Linda Wooldrage and offers long day care for $85.

Director Wooldrage said she values her cohort of 23 children and believes it’s important to support families across all incomes while still providing high quality care.

“As a parent myself when I was thinking about returning to work a big decision I had to make was who was going to care for my children and was it really going to be of value to return to work part time or would I be paying my earnings straight to childcare fees. It’s really about supporting families and having quality care and not being forced to pay exorbitant prices.”

Ms Wooldrage said while the centre acknowledges the need for reasonably priced care, Giggles Early Learning will be increasing their rates by a dollar or so by the end of the year.

MOST EXPENSIVE

Green Leaves Childcare – Launceston $132/day and Bellerive $125/day (Kindicare rating 7.4)

After opening a centre in Tasmania’s north in November last year Green Leaves Early Learning offers “highly-experienced bachelor-qualified” learning for children six weeks to six years of age in both Launceston and Bellerive.

Green Leaves Early Learning – Launceston.

From state-of-the-art chef prepared meals, culinary, yoga and music classes to a community lounge with barista coffee and baked treats for parents you can see why Green Leaves comes with an eye-watering price tag.

Green Leaves Early Learning – Bellerive.

Both centres boast several learning hubs and timber play forts as well as a bike track and edible garden for those enrolled at Launceston. “Our Launceston centre caters up to 124 children daily, while our Bellerive centre caters up to 116 children. We have limited vacancies across both services.” said Green Leaves spokesperson Tracy Kittle.

Early Learning Centre Devonport $119/day (Kindicare rating 8.5)

Previously known as Paisley Park, Early Learning Centre Devonport has in recent weeks changed ownership and is now run by Victoria-owned Roseberry House Childcare Centres. Keeping on board 22 of its current staff members, the facility offers $119 for long day care and has been running for four years.

“We provide all nappies, linen and offer a chef-curated menu” said director Erika.

DMP Child Care – Launceston $115/day (Kindicare rating: 9)

Located on the corner of Margaret St at Dame Marjorie Creche DMP Child Care costs $115 daily for long day care of young ones from just six weeks to those in preschool.

Like other centres breakfast, morning tea and lunch is included in fees as well as a number of educational programs for enrolled children.

The centre takes 68 kids and according to Toddle.com there is currently a waitlist.

Latrobe Early Learning Centre.

Latrobe Early Learning $115/day (Kindicare rating 7.5)

Situated in the north, Latrobe Early Learning is an extension of St Patrick’s Catholic School, offering long day care for $115. The centre is home to three different learning grades – the Caterpillar Room (for newborns – two-year-olds), the Butterfly Room (for toddlers) and Mini Minors (three to five-year-olds) all offering the opportunity for messy play and the development of fine motor, social and team-building skills. The centre has 80 spaces, with a staff member saying they are full “most of the time”.

Newstead Child Care Centre $114/day (Kindicare rating: 9.4)

Located just minutes out of Launceston’s CBD, Newstead Childcare Centre offers care from six-weeks-old to school aged children for $114 daily.

The centre is home to a nursery room, two toddler rooms, a pre-kindy room and a preschool room that gives children the chance to explore, play and participate in indoor and outdoor programs.

Newstead boasts an ‘excellent’ Kindicare rating for its education and quality care for its cohort of 106 children.