Find a Guardian Childcare Centre in Melbourne
Finding the right early learning centre for your family matters. Guardian childcare centres across Melbourne offer nurturing environments where children can thrive. Explore the map below to find a centre near your home or workplace.
Find Your Centre
Enter your postal code or suburb below to find a Guardian Centre in your area.
Child Care Subsidy and Fees
Many families across Victoria are eligible for the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs.
Explore our Family Guide to CCS, estimate your costs using our CCS Calculator, or read our guide on how to make the most of childcare rebates.
Families may also be eligible for the Victorian Government’s Free Kinder program, which provides funded kindergarten hours for three and four-year-olds to help reduce fees in the years before school.
Guardian’s Approach to Early Learning
At every Melbourne Guardian centre, our educators create learning experiences based on your child’s interests and stage of development. Our To BE Me program is a unique approach to early learning that grows with your child from the nursery room through to their preschool years.
Our Nutrition for Life program supports children to build healthy habits for life. Fresh, balanced meals and snacks are prepared onsite daily by our professional Chefs and Cooks. Children are encouraged to explore new flavours and enjoy positive mealtime experiences that fuel growing bodies and minds.
Preparing Your Child for Primary School
Children aged 3–5 take part in our Flying Start to School preschool program, designed specifically to lay the foundations for a confident start to school.
Flying Start to School aligns with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), supporting the literacy, numeracy and communication skills that your child needs to flourish in school and beyond.
Frequently Asked Questions
What times are Guardian’s Melbourne centres open? 
Most of our Melbourne childcare centres are open from 7 am to 6 pm on weekdays. However, some of our centres open earlier and close later to support your busy family and work schedule. You can check specific opening hours on each centre’s page.
How do Free Kinder and the Child Care Subsidy work together?
The federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS) reduces out-of-pocket childcare costs for most families based on income, recognised participation and hours of care. Free Kinder is a separate VIC Government program that provides additional fee relief for eligible children aged 3 and 4, on top of any CCS you already receive. Guardian centres across VIC participate in Free Kinder, so eligible families often benefit from both programs. Contact our team to find out what your family may be entitled to.
At what age does a child start school in Melbourne?
In Melbourne, children born between January 1 and April 30 can generally start prep school in the year they turn 5. Children born after April 30 usually start the following year. Guardian’s Flying Start to School preschool program is designed to make this transition smooth, giving children the literacy, numeracy and social skills they need to thrive as they begin their school journey.
What makes Guardian different from other Melbourne childcare providers?
Guardian’s To BE Me program is a unique approach to early learning that other Melbourne childcare providers don’t offer. It gives families visibility into how their child’s play connects to developmental outcomes at different ages and stages. Every Melbourne centre also has professional Chefs and Cooks preparing meals on-site, and our Flying Start to School preschool program is dedicated to making your child’s school transition as smooth as possible.
How do I find the right Melbourne Guardian centre for my family?
The map at the top of this page shows all Guardian centres in Melbourne. You can search by suburb or postcode to find your nearest options, then visit each centre page for more details. Booking a tour on the centre page is the best way to get a feel for a centre, meet the team and ask any questions specific to your family’s needs.