Child Care Demand
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MARKET INTELLIGENCE / OBSERVED HISTORY

Queensland childcare market history

See how reported childcare service numbers and average fees have changed over time. Choose a market or search a suburb to find its wider region.

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QLD

Centre-based day care services

1,978What does this count include?

What is counted?

Government-approved services that reported at least one session of subsidised care during January–March 2026.

Can I see the service names?

This government release publishes an area total, not the individual service names or IDs. We do not have a verified list of the 1978 services behind this figure. A directory of services today would not establish which services were counted in this historical quarter.

Check the original government workbook ↗

QLD · January–March 2026

Services reporting care during the quarter. Individual service names are not supplied in this release.

Change in service count

+392

1,586 services in July–September 2018, compared with 1,978 in January–March 2026. 24.7% more. This does not identify individual openings or closures.

Average centre-based day care fee

$14.10 per hour

Per child, before the government Child Care Subsidy is deducted. This is the hourly fee, not a daily fee or the amount a family pays after subsidy.

Published Department centre-based day care average.

49.2% higher than July–September 2019. Prices are not adjusted for inflation; the services in the sample can change.

How service numbers changed across QLD

Services reporting care

Each bar is the number of services reporting care in that quarter. Scroll sideways to see all quarters. A missing bar means no published figure, not zero services. These counts do not measure available childcare places.

Quarterly figures and original sources

June 2020 is missing because of temporary COVID-19 relief arrangements.

QLD. Service counts and fees cover centre-based day care. Fees are per hour before subsidy.
QuarterServicesHourly feeServices in fee sampleEvidence
2018-Q31,586UnavailableUnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2018-Q41,597UnavailableUnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2019-Q11,625UnavailableUnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2019-Q21,633UnavailableUnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2019-Q31,647$9.45UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2019-Q41,648$9.45UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2020-Q11,685$9.60UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2020-Q31,687$9.70UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2020-Q41,703$9.80UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2021-Q11,737$9.95UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2021-Q21,734$10.10UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2021-Q31,758$10.35UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2021-Q41,771$10.40UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2022-Q11,778$10.60UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2022-Q21,777$10.70UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2022-Q31,793$11.15UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2022-Q41,798$11.20UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2023-Q11,814$11.45UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2023-Q21,841$11.50UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2023-Q31,859$12.35UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2023-Q41,873$12.40UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2024-Q11,883$12.65UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2024-Q21,909$12.70UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2024-Q31,915$13.35UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2024-Q41,942$13.35UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2025-Q11,943$13.55UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2025-Q21,947$13.65UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2025-Q31,959$13.95UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2025-Q41,965$14.05UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗
2026-Q11,978$14.10UnavailableOriginal workbook ↗

Understanding the Queensland childcare market

How many childcare services are reported in Queensland?

The Department of Education reported 1,978 centre-based day care services in January–March 2026. These services reported at least one subsidised session of care during the quarter. This collection covers services participating in Child Care Subsidy, not every preschool or approved service.

Check the Department of Education source ↗

What is the average childcare fee in Queensland?

The published centre-based day care average is $14.10 per child per hour in January–March 2026, before Child Care Subsidy. The source does not supply a fee sample count here. This is an average across the source population, not a quote for a particular centre or a daily rate.

Check the Department of Education source ↗

Has the number of services changed?

The published count increased by 392 between July–September 2018 and January–March 2026. This compares reporting service totals. It does not identify individual openings or closures, or tell us how many childcare places were added. Fees and service counts may cover different sets of services.

Check the Department of Education source ↗

Does this tell me whether a particular site is viable?

Regional history helps frame a decision, but a site assessment needs an exact address and a defined catchment. Use a detailed report to investigate nearby competitors, child-age population, available local fees and development evidence. Confirm occupancy, staffing, planning and financial assumptions separately.

Prepared by Child Care Demand for operators, developers and childcare buyers. Read the methodology and coverage. Contact support@childcaredemand.com with a source correction.

THE NEXT STEP / CHILD CARE DEMAND

Before you commit to a site, see the whole catchment.

You’ve explored QLD. Now assess an exact address: the families around it, the services competing for them and the developments that could change the picture.

Child Care Demand brings that evidence into one report for operators, developers and childcare buyers.

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What you’ll find inside your report

Who would you compete with?

Nearby service names, locations and published capacity, with care types and available quality evidence.

Understand the alternatives families already have.

Find it in: Map · Demand & supply

What does local demand look like?

Child-age population, demand measures and supply comparisons for your selected drive-time or radius catchment.

Screen the demand case before commissioning deeper diligence.

Find it in: Demand & supply

What are nearby centres charging?

Published local fees, their dates and the services included in the sample, where available.

Test your pricing assumptions against local evidence.

Find it in: Commercials

What could change the market?

Recorded childcare development applications, published stages and proposed places where the source provides them.

Investigate future competition before committing to a site.

Find it in: Pipeline

How has the wider market changed?

Dated state and matched regional service and fee history, saved with your report.

Put today’s conditions in context for your investment case.

Find it in: Demand & supply

Can you check and share the evidence?

Source references, collection dates and coverage notes, with a shareable and printable report.

Give partners and decision-makers evidence they can inspect.

Find it in: Sources · Share · Print

Free market research

Published regional service counts and fee history. Useful for exploring an area and comparing how it has changed.

Your detailed site report

An exact address and your selected catchment, with named nearby services, local demand, available fees and development evidence. Broader historical context is included separately.

Coverage varies by location and source. Missing fees, capacity or development details are labelled. A report supports your due diligence; it does not verify occupancy, guarantee demand or replace planning advice. The historical aggregate does not identify every service counted in earlier quarters.

From research to a site decision

  1. Create your account. Set up your workspace and review the subscription terms.
  2. Choose your site. Enter a street address and choose a drive-time or radius catchment.
  3. Run and review your report. Explore the evidence, share it with your team and identify what needs further investigation.

A subscription or eligible trial is required to generate a report. Signing up does not generate a report or start a paid subscription automatically.

Create an account to assess a site →See a sample reportAlready a customer? Run your report
Discuss a site assessment with us →

Preschool provider mix

QLD · annual ABS observations

Providers delivering a preschool program to children aged 3 to 6, including programs within centre-based day care. Government share is government-operated preschool and day-care program providers divided by all providers in this collection. These are service providers, not counts of corporate owners.

Observed annual August reference periods. ABS perturbs cells to protect confidentiality; source totals are retained and components may not add exactly.
YearAll program providersGovernmentGovernment shareWithin day careEvidence
20202,2751918.4%1,654ABS table A1 ↗
20212,3331898.1%1,723ABS table A1 ↗
20222,3752179.1%1,750ABS table A1 ↗
20232,4572249.1%1,828ABS table A1 ↗
20242,5032168.6%1,885ABS table A1 ↗
20252,5462268.9%1,923ABS table A1 ↗

Some preschools are reclassified to day care as collection methods change. A change in setting is not proof of an opening or closure. Management categories do not establish ultimate ownership, a transfer or merger. Source: based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data, CC BY 4.0.

Queensland-regulated services

Outside the National Quality Framework

The Queensland Education and Care register records approved services under Queensland law. Most Queensland services sit in the separate NQF register. This is a distinct source population and is not added to the national CCS or NQF totals.

QEC approved services

43

Reference date 2025-12-31. Approval to operate does not verify actual operation.

Published maximum capacity

1,382

43 services with a published value. Source field: “Maximum capacity”. This is not presented as NQF approved places.

Registered provider IDs

32

Share denominator: 43 QEC services. These are registered providers, not ultimate corporate parents.

1 retained observation, earliest 2025-12-31. One baseline cannot establish openings, closures, transfers or capacity change. Approval dates, verified operating dates, quality ratings and fees are not supplied in this extract.

Provider share in the 2025-12-31 QEC source population
Provider IDRegistered nameServicesShare
PR-00008463AEIOU Foundation511.6%
PR-00008462NPA Family & Community Services Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Corporation49.3%
PR-00008445BAMAGAU KAZIL TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS CORPORATION24.7%
PR-00008446Nai-Beguta Agama Aboriginal Corporation24.7%
PR-00008464Torres Strait Island Regional Council24.7%
PR-00008466The Creche and Kindergarten Association Limited24.7%
PR-00008426Kingston East Neighbourhood Group Inc12.3%
PR-00008428Julatten Initiative Group Incorporated12.3%
PR-00008429Community Development Services Inc12.3%
PR-00008431BIGGENDEN AND DISTRICT KINDERGARTEN INC12.3%
PR-00008435COEN KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION INC12.3%
PR-00008438Millaa Millaa Community Kindergarten Association Inc12.3%
PR-00008440Wandarrah Pre School and Community Centre Association12.3%
PR-00008441Woorabinda Aboriginal Council12.3%
PR-00008443RAVENSHOE COMMUNITY CENTRE INC12.3%
PR-00008444Tieri Daycare Association Inc12.3%
PR-00008449Saint Matthews Lutheran Church12.3%
PR-00008450Warrgoobulginda Aboriginal Corporation12.3%
PR-00008451Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council12.3%
PR-00008452Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council12.3%
PR-00008453AURUKUN SHIRE COUNCIL12.3%
PR-00008454Little Country Kids Club Inc12.3%
PR-00008458Kummara Limited12.3%
PR-00008459Theodore Early Childhood Centre Association Inc.12.3%
PR-00008460Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Townsville12.3%
PR-00008465Platypus Playcare Incorporated12.3%
PR-00009241Port Kennedy Association Incorporated12.3%
PR-00009257Pormpur Paanthu Aboriginal Corporation12.3%
PR-00009291Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Children and Youth Services12.3%
PR-00009310Jukanyula Aboriginal Corporation For Children's Enrichment12.3%
PR-00009311Search Light Inc.12.3%
PR-00009332Micah Projects Ltd12.3%
Inspect the 43 dated service records
Service IDPublished nameAddressProvider IDMaximum capacity
SE-00016483AEIOU Bald Hills40 Attunga St, BALD HILLS, QLD, 4036PR-0000846360
SE-00016414AEIOU LoganBuilding L13 Facilities Lane, Griffith University Logan Campus, MEADOWBROOK, QLD, 4131PR-0000846364
SE-00015056AEIOU NathanBuilding N77, NATHAN, QLD, 4111PR-0000846350
SE-00015053AEIOU Toowoomba7 Friend Street, TOOWOOMBA, QLD, 4350PR-0000846318
SE-00016610AEIOU Townsville31 D'Arcy Drive, IDALIA, QLD, 4811PR-0000846340
SE-00015035Ama Aukia Activity Centre246 Jacob Street, BAMAGA, QLD, 4876PR-0000844560
SE-00015061Ama Lala Day Care Centre246 Jacob Street, BAMAGA, QLD, 4876PR-0000844552
SE-00015001Aragun Child Care CentreCnr Nona Chapman Street, BADU ISLAND, QLD, 4875PR-0000846442
SE-00015025Biggenden District Kindergarten Limited Hours Day Care Centre1 Elizabeth Street, BIGGENDEN, QLD, 4621PR-0000843121
SE-00015027C&K Capella Early Childhood CentreCnr Crinum And Huntley Streets, CAPELLA, QLD, 4723PR-0000846621
SE-00015015C&K Magnetic Island Early Childhood Centre25 Nelly Bay Road Nelly Bay, MAGNETIC ISLAND, QLD, 4819PR-0000846621
SE-00015039Coen Kindergarten And Limited Hours Care62 Taylor Street, COEN, QLD, 4892PR-0000843520
SE-00015041Doomadgee Child Care CentreSharpe Street, DOOMADGEE, QLD, 4830PR-0000845029
SE-00015022Goombungee Little Folks Group59 Mocatta Street, GOOMBUNGEE, QLD, 4354PR-0000844924
SE-00015037Hammond Island After School CareLot 74d Teachers Avenue, HAMMOND ISLAND, QLD, 4875PR-0000846435
SE-00016425Injilinji After School Care Program8 Thomson Road, HEALY, QLD, 4825PR-0000929115
SE-00015049Injinoo Child Care CentreMcdonnell Road, INJINOO, QLD, 4876PR-0000846242
SE-00015034Injinoo Outside School Hours CareMcdonell Road, INJINOO, QLD, 4876PR-0000846229
SE-00016413Jukanyula Outside School Care96 Hinkler Avenue, NORTH BUNDABERG, QLD, 4670PR-0000931035
SE-00015007Kids Korner Child Care Centre8 Corundum Street, STANTHORPE, QLD, 4380PR-0000842914
SE-00015043Koolkan Early Childhood Centre And Family Support Hub513 Wuungkam Street, AURUKUN, QLD, 4892PR-0000845353
SE-00014999Koolyangarra Early Childhood Centre4 Park Road West, HIGHGATE HILL, QLD, 4101PR-0000845840
SE-00015028Little Country Kids Club40 Cheetham Street, CECIL PLAINS, QLD, 4407PR-0000845421
SE-00015024Millaa Millaa Children's CentrePalm Avenue, MILLAA MILLAA, QLD, 4886PR-0000843821
SE-00015005New Mapoon Child Care Centre17 Bond Street, NEW MAPOON, QLD, 4876PR-0000844639
SE-00015036New Mapoon Children's Activity Centre17 Bond Street, BAMAGA, QLD, 4876PR-0000844630
SE-00015051Nola's PlacePoland Street, HOPE VALE, QLD, 4895PR-0000845129
SE-00015018Occasional Child Care At Kingston East177 Meakin Rd, SLACKS CREEK, QLD, 4127PR-0000842621
SE-00015023Platypus PlaycareNorth Street, EUNGELLA, QLD, 4757PR-0000846521
SE-00016358Pormpur Paanthu Outside School Hours Care22-23 Yalu Street, PORMPURAAW, QLD, 4892PR-0000925722
SE-00016303Port Kennedy After School and Vacation Care64-66 DOUGLAS STREET, THURSDAY ISLAND, QLD, 4875PR-0000924145
SE-00015013Ravenshoe Limited Hours Child Care Centre5 Moore Street, RAVENSHOE, QLD, 4888PR-0000844321
SE-00016422Search Light Early Learning Centre153 Lister St, SUNNYBANK, QLD, 4109PR-0000931119
SE-00015057St. Mary Mackillop Gooddo Early Learning CentrePark Road, PALM ISLAND, QLD, 4816PR-0000846042
SE-00015045Sunbird Children's CentreJulatten Community Centre, Brown Road, JULATTEN, QLD, 4871PR-0000842821
SE-00015046Theodore Early Childhood Centre5-7 First Avenue, THEODORE, QLD, 4719PR-0000845920
SE-00015019Tieri Daycare Centre2 Carbeen Street, TIERI, QLD, 4709PR-0000844421
SE-00015055Umagico Childcare CentrePascoe Street, UMAGICO, QLD, 4876PR-0000846229
SE-00015047Umagico Outside School Hours Care8 Young Street, UMAGICO, QLD, 4876PR-0000846230
SE-00015000Undoonoo Day Care CentreRankin Street, WOORABINDA, QLD, 4713PR-0000844162
SE-00015021Wandarrah Neighbourhood CentreCnr Lilac & Magnolia Streets, INALA, QLD, 4077PR-0000844021
SE-00016310Wellspring Hawthorne28 Malcolm Street, HAWTHORNE, QLD, 4171PR-0000933220
SE-00015004Yarrabah Daycare CentreSawmill Road, YARRABAH, QLD, 4871PR-0000845242

Collected 2026-09-06 from an explicitly dated source release. Original CSV · Population and reference-date definition · Dataset and CC BY 4.0 licence. © State of Queensland, Department of Education. Adapted by extracting records and calculating counts and shares. The publisher states that the extract contains all QEC approved services; it does not supply a separate numeric control total.