Queensberry Children’s Centre

Applications for 2024 are now open! Read how to apply below.

About the Queensberry Children’s Centre

Built in 1880, the former Queensberry Street Primary School (now registered with the Historic Buildings Council) has been renovated extensively to house the Queensberry Children’s Centre.

It offers:

  • Integrated three-year-old and four-year-old kindergarten programs, delivered five days per week by experienced and qualified Early Childhood Teachers
  • A responsive curriculum that caters to individual and groups needs with strong emphasis on embedding First Nations perspectives and sustainability across all aspects of the program
  • A play-based learning and teaching approach that is enhanced through the development of warm, reciprocal, and respectful relationships between children, educators, and families
  • Generalist age-appropriate curricula that focuses on learning in language and literacy and science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM)
  • A large outdoor play area providing natural spaces where children can connect with the natural world
  • A specialist weekly music program delivered by a qualified teacher
  • Food services and cloth nappies.

Age groups and rooms

The Queensberry Children's Centre is registered for 96 places. There are six playrooms where children are grouped by age:

RoomAgePlaces
Murrum Room 3–12 months 8 places
Warin Room 10–19 months 12 places
Walert Room 18–29 months 16 places
Murrack Room 2–3 years 16 places
Wadjil Room 3–4 years 22 places
Alice Paton Kindergarten Room 4–5 years 22 places

Hours, programs and enrolment requirements

The Queensberry Children's Centre operates from 7:45 am to 6:00 pm, Monday to Friday, 50 weeks per year. It is closed on some public holidays and University of Melbourne holidays.

Queensberry Children's Centre offers full day early education programs for children aged three months to five years, including:

  • Long day care programs for children under three years old
  • Integrated kindergarten and long day care programs for three and four-year-olds.

Attendance is limited to one University of Melbourne Early Childhood Service per child. A minimum booking of two days per week is required for all enrolments. Part-time enrolments are required to include either a Monday or Friday booking.

For enrolment into integrated kindergarten and long day care programs, priority is given to children who will be attending a funded program at Queensberry Children's Centre. Children attending funded program at Queensberry Children's Centre must not be enrolled into a funded kindergarten program at any other early childhood service.

Age requirements

  • Three-year old program: Children are required to turn three years of age by 30 April in the year of entry
  • Four-year old program: Children are required to turn four years of age by 30 April in the year of entry.

Virtual tour

Fees and subsidies

Fees

Family Full fee (per child)
Daily attendance (staff and community) $156
Daily attendance (student) $137

Subsidies

Queensberry Children's Centre is a registered service provider with the Australian Government. For eligible families, a Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is paid directly to the service as a weekly fee reduction. Full fees are charged to families until CCS entitlements are confirmed.

A student rebate scheme to assist low-income local and international student families with their long day care cost is available. The amount of rebate available for each student is based on the families Child Care Subsidy (CCS) percentage (or income assessment), and the fees they pay at the service their child attends. Eligible families whose children attend Queensberry Children’s Centre, Swanston Street Children’s Centre and the Early Learning Centre receive the rebate directly through their childcare account. To find out more, please contact us.

How to apply

Applications for 2024 are now open. To apply, please complete an application form (PDF 389.6 KB) and return it to:

Early Childhood Education Services Administration 
228 Queensberry Street, Carlton 3053
childcare-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au

Applications are accepted throughout the year with places allocated dependent on availability. Applications for enrolment commencing January must be submitted by August the previous year to be considered in the initial round of allocations.

For more information, please see: Information for applicants: 2024 (PDF 157.3 KB)

Centre tours

The Queensberry Children’s Centre will be conducting tours for interested families. You are welcome to meet with our Centre Director and some of our educators whilst you learn about the centre’s approach to early learning and take a walk through our indoor and outdoor experiences.

To find out more about early childhood education at the Queensberry Children’s Centre and to arrange a tour, please contact the Administration Team on 03 8344 9621.

Contact us

For all applications, accounts and enrolment enquiries, contact the Administration Office:

To contact the Centre directly, phone 03 8344 9470.