Open 6:30am to 6:30pm
Monday to Friday
Guardian Childcare & Education Hillside
- Proud winner of the Family Choice Award 2025. As determined by our existing families rating their experience of our Centre via Family Satisfaction Survey and independent Google Reviews. Click here for more detail
- At Hillside you’ll feel confident that your child is thriving; building their in our great learning spaces which include a community library, vegetable gardens, a giant horse, a wooden fort, and fun, age-specific studios where their learning comes to life. Your child deserves the best.
- Your child will be in the best hands with us, and our centre will soon become their second home. They will never want to leave!
- We build a strong sense of belonging from day one as we get to know you and your unique child – come and be part of our Hillside family!
Book a tour today to see what makes our Centre special & have all your questions answered
HOURS
Mon to Fri 6:30am to 6:30pm
ADDRESS
4 The Parks Hillside, VIC, 3037
SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS
Check out our fantastic indoor and outdoor learning spaces your child will enjoy
Welcome to our Centre
Guardian Childcare & Education Hillside, recently refurbished, is located north-west of Melbourne’s CBD and a short drive and ideal for families living in or near the suburbs of Calder Park, Sydenham, Taylors Hill, and Fraser Rise. Our daycare centre is an excellent option for local families seeking high-quality childcare close to home.
- Quality learning programs such as Joy of Reading, Cooking and Sustainability
- Engaging indoor learning spaces full of quality educational resources
- Expansive outdoor play spaces with a sandpit, a wooden fort and veggie garden
- On-site Chef providing fresh snacks and meals daily
- Highly experienced Educators and degree-qualified Teachers
- Nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, a hat and bed linen provided
- Extended hours of care each weekday from 6:30am to 6:30pm
Meet our Centre Manager Samantha
Our Flying Start to School program provides a specialised 2-year curriculum for children aged 3 to 5. Our unique program has two stages - Becoming Me for 3 year olds and Being Me for 4 year olds. Using developmental milestones and continuous monitoring of your child’s progress, this program is designed to make sure your child gets a flying start to school. Read more HERE
Where children are supported to be brave, curious, and bold in their learning, for the best possible start to life.
Catherine P.
20:45 03 Jun 24
I am very pleased with this service and also I always say to myself how well we picked ‘The Guardian’ when looking for a centre for our children. My children are always safe, happy, clean and well engaged into the program and have built strong connections with Kinder Teachers, Educators and Peers.All the Educators and Teachers are excellent communicators, as a mum leaving your children for long periods of time throughout the day I love hearing from all the Teachers/Educators about my child/children’s day. The management team is doing an amazing job, supportive with family requests and keeping everything well organised. Thank you Guardian Team.
Marie A.
03:17 14 May 24
Amazing Kindergarden! My son loves going every time the teachers are so caring and patient my son is learning so much highly highly recommend guardian hillside!
Juline M.
02:03 14 May 24
The staff are all so lovely and helpful but most importantly they are fantastic with my son.
Kristy D.
19:42 30 Jan 24
Bianca S.
06:57 18 Dec 23
The educators are friendly, caring and show genuine care towards my child. The activities and opportunities provided to my child are exciting and engaging.
Lyn S.
23:15 24 Oct 23
The educators and centre manager Sam at Guardian Hillside had delivered a sensational care for my son. The customer service and great communication I received from them was well above my expectation. The educators developed a great rapport with my son and knowing that he felt safe in the environment and loved by many. The team treats you like a family and I had always felt very welcomed by them. Thank you for helping my son develop many milestone of learning!
N C.
21:09 30 May 23
Best team ever from educators to the center management, very friendly and easy to communicate with.
Monica W.
04:54 27 Dec 22
Lesley F.
11:08 18 Oct 22
I feel very comfortable knowing that my children are going to be safe and well looked after at Guardian Hillside. The staff are always very friendly and welcoming.
Thilini S.
01:23 11 Oct 22
Gemma E
11:38 06 Sep 22
Mani L.
04:39 23 Aug 22
I am very happy with my kids progress and with her confidence and her relation with the educators.
Mitchel
23:30 05 Jul 22
I'm really grateful to have my son with such experienced staff 💙. Ulka is one of those amazing ladies who taught my son many skills while he was new and not have good experience.If you are looking for a good childcare don't hesitate to choose such an incredible skilled staff to leave your child with. 😉
mubashira H.
00:22 06 May 22
Amazing Team, Every time I walk in to sign in or out the staff are so welcoming and polite. I just wanted to let you all know that you are doing a great job. It makes my life, as a working mother, so much easier when I have a place like Guardian to be able to rely on. Keep up the great work and fun learning environment. Thank you for always being so accommodating and caring!
Ria R.
10:15 22 Mar 22
We love the team at Guardian Hillside. Very friendly, and easy to communicate with. Management was receptive to feedback. The educators go above and beyond to look after our kids, coming out with ways to help my little ones transition into childcare. Would definitely recommend.
Desiree F.
06:31 09 Mar 22
I have had two kids attend this service and I couldn’t be happier with the quality of educators and management. The team are always there to support my children’s needs. The chef is just incredible - my kids eat things I could never imagine them eating at home! Thanks to the team for everything!
Katie N.
03:39 15 Feb 22
Our second family! My lil' girl joined Guardian Childcare & Education Hillside when she was a baby (Nursery room) and now has moved up to the next toddler room. I initially chose this centre because how cute and clean the place looked and what i could observe that the staff were warm, caring & nice people. I'm glad i trusted my instincts because every single person here is wonderful, takes pride in what they do, always has a smile on their face (even after a long hard day with a room full of tired babies) and most importantly surrounds our children with a loving, safe & happy environment that supports their growth and encourages education in a playful way. Our family loves it here and we would highly recommend!
Shreya K.
12:25 14 Feb 22
My kiddo has been going to this centre since she was 5 month old. All the educators have been so amazing, friendly, loving and caring. They just make the kids feel like home. Very professional, hygienic, quality of the food is also great. Every weekend my daughter asks why is it a holiday on Saturday and Sunday. That speaks all I guess. Thanks to the GELC team.
Danielle D.
09:59 14 Feb 22
Guardian Hillside is everything I could have hoped for in early childhood education and care for my children. The staff run engaging and educational programs. The rooms are clean and inviting for children and the staff are always willing to go above and beyond to assist families. The chef makes delicious meals, so much so, my children eat better at childcare than home!! Call the centre, book a tour and find out for yourself!
Taylor N
08:42 09 Feb 22
My daughter only recently started childcare, after a few tours at different centres Guardian was the only I could not fault.I quickly made sure I secured a spot for my daughter and we are loving every minute! We look forward to our days at childcare
Donna M.
08:34 09 Feb 22
Great place for children to learn and expand their minds
Michelle P.
09:25 26 Oct 21
I am so happy with the centre and the team. The service and care is amazing and my child is happy everyday!
Jenny S.
03:00 19 Oct 21
Great professional and friendly staff/educators who make our experience there great. Our daughter has been there from nursery to kinder (where she is now), and loves her educators and her time there. Great service and communication (espec during these covid times), from their greetings at entry, to their classrooms, to their regular story park updates about our daughter/curriculum for the week, to their emails/centre news letters etc. Would recommend
Loan N.
11:16 15 Sep 21
Excellent service, my little one always goes home with full tummy and happy face.
Katrina T
10:36 15 Sep 21
We came to Guardian Hillside only for a quick tour, to see if it was a good fit. And within seconds of seeing the place and talking to the manager, I knew this was where my kids would thrive. The staff and teachers have been nothing but exceptional! My kids were always happy at pick up and they learned so much. I always felt safe dropping off my kids and knew that they were being well taken care of. Communication is excellent with the staff and teachers, and with regular updates and tips on storypark, I don't feel like I am missing out and know how to support my child at home. Thank you!
Nicole G.
03:33 15 Sep 21
My son loves going to Guardian Hillside. Like every child, he was apprehensive at first and it took a few days to settle in. However, he received thorough orientation sessions where he was able to explore the space and meet the educators. This allowed him to get comfortable sooner than I expected, which was particularly important as he has a speech delay and is currently going through an ASD assessment. Danica and Sam ensured us that they would apply for extra support for his additional needs and I found this process very simple as they guided me through it. It was important for me to know that with my son's addition needs, he was being cared for and looked after with all the supports he requires. I can see that my son is enjoying every minute of his time there through the daily updates on StoryPark. I highly recommend Guardian Hillside!
Ella M.
03:53 19 Jun 21
My son has attended guardian for the last two years. Educators have always gone above and beyond. The centre manager is fantastic. Always so approachable and happy to help.
Rhythm of the Day
We know children (and families) like routine. Whilst no two days of learning are ever the same - here's what a day at Guardian might look like.
Whilst no two days of learning are ever the same - here's what a day at Guardian might look like.
Handover time with children, families and our friendly Educators. There's a chance for conversation to share what's important for the day/what's happened the night before at home.
Breakfast time where families are welcome to stay and enjoy breakfast with the children.
As children are arriving and families are coming and going, there's an opportunity for play as well as family grouping, open-plan play and multi-age grouping.
There's an opportunity for children to come together and enjoy morning tea.
Following morning tea, the planned experiences continue. This includes both indoor and outdoor programs.
There's an opportunity for children to come together for lunch. With an open-door policy, families are able to join the centre for meals and excursion if they wish.
For children who want to, or need to, there's an opportunity to sleep, rest or relax. For children who don't need to rest, there are planned experiences, which are more likely to be outdoors.
Children come together for afternoon tea in small groups or with siblings (they can also rest and play together, too). This time also presents an opportunity to reflect on the day.
As families arrive to pick up children, there's an opportunity to speak to Educators and share information about the day.
Some centres offer early tea or light snack at the end of the day, which they can grab as they leave the centre. We’re mindful of how routines vary at home, so if throughout the day, we notice children look tired, food will be provided.
What's included in the Guardian Experience
From nutritious meals and engaging learning programs —it’s all covered in your daily rate. No hidden extras, just peace of mind for you and a great day for your child.
Hat, wetbag and sunscreen
5 meals per day
All incursions and excursions
Nappies and wipes
Storypark parenting app
Long day care hours year around
Helpful Information
Opening Hours
What to Bring
What we Provide
- Nappies and wipes
- Bed linen
- Guardian hat
- SPF 50+ sunscreen
- All nutritious meals and snacks
What to Bring
- Water bottle
- Spare change of clothing, labelled
- Soft toy or comfort blanket for nap time
- Baby's bottles for formula or breastmilk
Learn More About Our Centre
Guardian Childcare & Education Hillside provides a friendly and engaging centre for all families. The children can learn, grow and develop in a range of expansive spaces that offer endless stimulation for big imaginations. The outdoor spaces are set up daily with the children, which allow them to be the creators of their own play experiences.
The children at our centre love experimenting with recyclable materials, like constructing city buildings out of boxes. We also try to incorporate a lot of natural materials from local parklands into our program, so that children can learn about the natural environment around them.
The children enjoy hosting special guest visitors that link in with what they are learning. An example of this is when we were investigating owls, and we invited keepers to bring an owl along to our centre for the children to see and touch. Further to this the Children at Guardian Childcare & Education Hillside are provided with opportunities to further investigate topic of interest through Excursions. For example when the Pre Kinder Children we investigation different modes of transport the group were provided with the opportunity to go on a Bus Trip around Melbourne.
Our educators are always excited to meet new families and their children. We go the extra mile to ensure that you are well-informed about your child’s day and developmental progress. Our door is always open for you to visit throughout the day and on special events, and we can always call you to provide an update on your child for peace of mind.
Centre Highlights
Our Hillside childcare centre offers:
- Quality learning programs such as Joy of Reading, Cooking and Sustainability
- Engaging indoor learning spaces full of quality educational resources
- Expansive outdoor play spaces with a sandpit, a wooden fort and veggie garden
- On-site Chef providing fresh snacks and meals daily
- Highly experienced Educators and degree-qualified Teachers
- Nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, a hat and bed linen provided
- Extended hours of care each weekday from 6:30am to 6:30pm
Daily Rate Information
Daily Rates
Our daily rates are all inclusive and have no additional charges for incursions / excursions or any of our learning programs. The rates shown are an estimate based on using Childcare Subsidy (CCS) subsidised hours. The CCS helps lower your out-of-pocket costs, with subsidy rates dependant on your individual family eligibility levels.
| What You Might Pay After CCS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age of Room | Daily Rate | 60% Subsidy | 80% Subsidy |
| Nursery (0–2) | $160.41 | $68.98 | $38.50 |
| Toddler (2–3) | $160.41 | $68.98 | $38.50 |
| Kinder (3–5) | $157.84 | $67.87 | $37.88 |
The Victorian Government offers funding to provide families up to 15 hours of Free Kindergarten a week, in addition to the Childcare Subsidy. The funding offsets the fees for three and four-year-old children that are part of the centre’s long day care Kindergarten program. Families will save up to $2,101 a year for children aged three-years-old and above in eligible long day cares in 2025. Ask for more details when you tour the centre.
Our Learning Programs
Learning should be fun! Learning through play encourages children to explore and understand their world at their own pace. It helps build their knowledge, develop confidence, and embrace curiosity.
Learning should be fun! Learning through play allows children to build their knowledge, develop confidence, and embrace curiosity.
Kindergarten Program
Our Flying Start to School kindergarten program is lead by degree qualified Teachers in a long day care setting. Our specialist two-year program is committed to supporting your child as they prepare for big school. We focus on nurturing their confidence, making friends and social emotional growth while also supporting their abilities in reading, writing, counting, and thinking skills. Whether it’s building with blocks, practicing their first letters, or learning to share with friends, every experience is carefully designed to support your child’s development.
Our Centre is a recipient of funding as part of the VIC Government’s Free Kinder Program. Eligible children aged three years and above will receive up to $2101 in additional subsidies to reduce your out-of-pocket fees. Ask for more details when you tour the centre.
Out and about
Through excursions, children are supported to expand their world, to get to know their community, and have a sense of belonging. Their learning thrives when they feel safe, welcome, and that they belong.
STEM
Children discover the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through age-appropriate activities that are designed to foster curiosity and develop foundational skills like problem-solving and creativity.
Cooking
Cooking experiences teach numeracy by counting ingredients, and weighing and measuring quantities and volume, while managing these tasks supports independence and confidence.
Ella Language
Learning languages through Early Learning Languages Australia (ELLA) supports brain development and social skills and creates opportunities to celebrate cultural diversity.
Joy of Reading
Reading aloud to children each day inspires imagination and supports thinking. Books with rhythm, rhyme and word patterns make stories more playful and memorable.
Sustainability
From growing veggies and foraging in the garden for that day’s meal ingredients to learning about recycling, children learn about being part of a community, connecting to their environment and understanding their impact on the world.
What our families say about the centre
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