Types of child care services
There are a range of options for parents to choose the right type of child care service that suits their needs.
Types of child care
- Child care
Also called "Early Learning Centres" or "ELCs"
For children whose families are working or studying
- Occasional care
Helps parents with more casual needs
For example, needing 2 hours of care for an appointment
- Family day care
Based in a carer’s home with a very small number of other children
- In-home care
A carer cares for your child in your own home.
This is often called a nanny or au pair.
Read more about each type of child care on the Victorian Government's website.
Who runs child care
Child care services are set up by different kinds of organisations, such as:
- a committee of volunteer parents
- workplaces or universities
- community organisations or local councils
- private businesses.
- gyms or aquatic centres, community facilities and some retailers offer care while parents are using their facilities
Location of child care services
The Federal Government's Starting Blocks website will assist you with finding vacancies in child care, occasional care and family day care.
You can download a map of child care services and kindergartens(PDF, 1MB) indicating all services within the City of Darebin.
View all child care, kindergartens and occasional Care Services in Darebin (DOCX, 41KB)
View all child care services participating in the Darebin Registration System(DOCX, 18KB)
How do I choose a service?
Choosing the right child care service can be difficult. Your decision will depend on your family’s needs and the environment where you and your child feel most comfortable.
Find out about:
Once you find a child care service that meets your family needs, the next step is to enrol your child. There are more than 50 child care services within Darebin to choose from.
We recommend families make contact and visit individual services, prior to registration and talk about their enrolment process
Darebin registration system
Darebin operates a central registration system for eight participating community-managed services. These services are operated by either a committee of management or early years management organisation.
See below for a list of these services that are part of our registration system:
| Age ranges in rooms |
6—15 months |
16 months—
2 years |
2—3 years |
3—4 years |
3—5 years |
4—5 years |
Reservoir
Darebin Child Care & Kindergarten
6—8 Kenilworth Street,Reservoir |
6 months—2 year old child care:
16 places |
2—3 year old child care:
16 places |
3 year old kinder:
22 places |
3—5 years child care and 3 yo kinder:
33 places |
4 year old kinder:
44 places |
Reservoir
Merrilands United Early Learning
23—25 Ryans Road,Reservoir |
6 months—2 year old child care:
12 places |
2—3 year old child care:
8 places |
— |
3—5 years child care:
22 places |
3 yo and 4 yo kinder:
28 places |
Reservoir
Oakhill Children’s Centre
91 North Road,Reservoir |
6 months—2 year old child care:
12 places |
2—3 year old child care:
20 places |
— |
3—5 years child care. 3 yo kinder:
22 places |
— |
Preston
Nara Community Early Learning Centre
77—91 St Georges Road,Preston |
6 months—2 year old child care:
12 places |
2—3 year old child care:
12 places |
— |
3—5 years child care, 3 yo kinder:
22 places |
4—5 years child care and 4 yo kinder:
22 places |
Preston
Darebin Child Care & Kindergarten
260 Gower Street,Preston |
6 months—2 year old child care:
12 places |
2—3 year old child care:
16 places |
— |
3—5 years child care and 4 yo kinder:
33places |
— |
Northcote
Annie Dennis Childrens Centre
2 Oldis Avenue,Northcote |
6—15 months child care:
9 places |
6 months—2 years
child care:
11 places |
2—3 year old child care:
15 places |
3—5 years child care, 3 yo kinder:
18 places |
3—5 years child care, 3 yo kinder, 4 yo kinder:
16 places |
4—5 years child care, 4 yo kinder:
20 places |
Thornbury
Merri Community Child Care Centre & Kindergarten
313 St Georges Road, Thornbury |
6—15 months child care:
11 places |
16 months—3 years child care:
11 places |
3—5 years child care, 3 yo kinder:
11 places |
3—5 years child care, 4 yo kinder:
16 places |
— |
Thornbury
Raleigh Street Community Children's Centre
28 Raleigh Street, Thornbury |
6 months—3 years child care:
10 places |
2—3 years child care:
10 places |
— |
3—5 years child care, 3 yo kinder, 4 yo kinder:
17 places |
— |
Making a complaint
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services in the City of Darebin are managed by a diverse range of providers, including parent Committees of Management, Commercial operators and Early Years Management Services.
If you are concerned about your child's education, care, or licensed children's service, you should raise your concerns with the service first.
- All early childhood services must have a written policy and procedure that states who you need to speak to about your complaint, how they will respond, and which complaints must be notified to the department.
- The name and the telephone number of the person who deals with complaints must also be displayed at the entrance to the service. For family day care, these details will be located in the service's principal office. If your complaint cannot be resolved by the service, you should then raise it with the department.
Give feedback or make a complaint to the Department of Education
More information
Department of Education
Email: nmr.qar@edumail.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 7005 1989
Safeguarding children
We are committed to a child-safe organisation and have zero tolerance to abuse of children and young people. Read more about safeguarding children.
If the complaint is related specifically to a child with a disability, contact the Association for Children with Disability.
Association for Children with Disability
Email: mail@acd.org.au
Phone: 03 9880 7000