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 & supplyCHILD CARE DEMAND / QUARTERLY RESEARCH
Australian childcare market review: January–March 2026
How reported centre-based day care service numbers and hourly fees changed over the year across all eight states and territories.
Prepared by Child Care Demand on 2026-09-06. Reporting period: January–March 2026. This is an observed market comparison, not a forecast or an investment ranking.
Compare the states and territories
| Market | Services a year earlier | Latest services | Change | Earlier hourly fee | Latest hourly fee | Fee change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 3,659 | 3,770 | +111 (3.0%) | $14.15 | $14.75 | 4.2% |
| Victoria | 2,113 | 2,210 | +97 (4.6%) | $14.00 | $14.55 | 3.9% |
| Queensland | 1,943 | 1,978 | +35 (1.8%) | $13.55 | $14.10 | 4.1% |
| South Australia | 536 | 539 | +3 (0.6%) | $13.45 | $14.05 | 4.5% |
| Western Australia | 928 | 968 | +40 (4.3%) | $14.15 | $14.80 | 4.6% |
| Tasmania | 145 | 143 | -2 (-1.4%) | $12.60 | $13.20 | 4.8% |
| Northern Territory | 123 | 123 | 0 (0.0%) | $12.55 | $13.20 | 5.2% |
| Australian Capital Territory | 196 | 189 | -7 (-3.6%) | $15.55 | $16.35 | 5.1% |
Change uses the earlier published count or fee as its denominator. State fees are the Department’s published averages. They are not averages of regional averages, and fee changes have not been adjusted for inflation.
Latest original workbook ↗ · Year-earlier original workbook ↗
How to use this in a site decision
For an operator, fee changes provide context for checking local pricing. For a developer, changes in service numbers help frame questions about competing supply. For a buyer, the comparison can inform the assumptions to investigate during diligence.
A higher fee or fewer reporting services does not establish an underserved market. These totals do not measure occupancy, available places, profitability or individual openings and closures. Check the specific catchment before drawing a conclusion about a site.
THE NEXT STEP / CHILD CARE DEMAND
Before you commit to a site, see the whole catchment.
You’ve explored Australia’s state and territory markets. 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.
What you’ll find inside your report
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 & supplyWhat 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: CommercialsWhat 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: PipelineHow 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 & supplyCan 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 · PrintFree 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
- Create your account. Set up your workspace and review the subscription terms.
- Choose your site. Enter a street address and choose a drive-time or radius catchment.
- 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.
Discuss a site assessment with us →Based on Australian Government Department of Education data, CC BY 4.0. Methodology and source coverage. Media enquiries and corrections.