Guardian Childcare & Education Collins Street

  • Keeping children safe always comes first. All of our team are committed to uphold the highest standards of child safety. Read our approach here
  • Proud GOLD 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.
  • Discover our centre that feels like home and where each day is exciting, from our nurturing nursery to our leading 2 year kindergarten program. Your child deserves the best.
  • Our experienced and passionate Educators are dedicated to helping children learn and grow in a welcoming and supportive environment. We are so proud of them and the amazing centre they have created.

Book a tour today to see what makes our Centre special & have all your questions answered

HOURS

Mon to Fri 7:30am to 6:30pm

ADDRESS

Level 9, 84 Flinders Lane Melbourne, VIC, 3000


Entry via 84 Flinders Lane, Please proceed to reception located on Level 9

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS

Check out our fantastic indoor and outdoor learning spaces your child will enjoy

Welcome to our Centre

Welcome to Guardian Collins Street, conveniently located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD. At our childcare centre, you’ll find quality care and engaging educational programs in our Nursery all the way through to our government-funded Flying Start to School kindergarten program.

What makes our Collins Street childcare centre special for your family?

• Our impressive indoor and simulated outdoor spaces, featuring a treehouse and water play areas, encourage exploration.
• Daily excursions into the city to visit galleries, gardens and laneways, turning Melbourne into a classroom.
• An amazing team that gets to know each child’s needs with our personalised To BE Me learning milestones program

Your family is at the heart of our early learning centre, where every child’s safety and wellbeing is our priority. Be part of our leading community!

Collins Street Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Shivalika and team

"We believe in the power of connection, collaboration, and care. We are committed to creating a nurturing, inclusive, and high-quality environment where children thrive, families feel supported, and educators are empowered—growing together with purpose and heart."

Daily Fees

Value for quality care. See our daily fees and your CCS-reduced cost

View Daily Fees
To Be Me

To BE Me is our exclusive learning program designed for each age and stage of a child’s first years. To BE Me sets the standard for early learning with a contemporary approach tailored to your child’s age, interests and strengths. It sets easy to follow Development Pathways and encompasses our educational programs, room set-ups, daily rhythms and the way we support your child. Read more here!

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

Flying start to school

Where children are supported to be brave, curious, and bold in their learning, for the best possible start to life.

Reviews from Google

(28)
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Janine B.
We’ve had such a wonderful experience with Guardian Childcare Centre Collins! The educators and the entire team are incredibly caring, attentive, and dedicated to creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for the children.

My son, Zachary, has absolutely thrived here. He looks forward to attending every day and always comes home excited to share stories about the activities, the friends he’s made, and all the things he’s learned. It’s been so reassuring to know he’s in such capable and compassionate hands.

Communication from the staff is always clear, consistent, and thoughtful. It’s evident that they genuinely care about each child’s wellbeing and development. We are especially grateful for the kindness and support they’ve shown Zachary throughout his time at the centre.

We couldn’t recommend this centre more highly to any family seeking high-quality early childhood education and care. Thank you for making our son’s early years such a positive and memorable experience!
Athira R.
A good and safe center for kids in the city. The center educational activities, management and staff's are amazing.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words and recommendation Athira! We're so glad to hear that you feel our centre is a safe and supportive place for children. Our team works hard to create meaningful educational experiences and maintain a nurturing environment, so it's wonderful to know that this has made a positive impact. We truly appreciate your feedback!
Sukhi & Pinder D.
I cannot recommend Guardian on Collins Street enough! As someone who didn’t have any extra help with my child, finding a place that felt safe, supportive, and nurturing was everything I needed — and Guardian went above and beyond.

Our daughter started at Guardian when she was just 13 months old and stayed until we relocated to another country. From day one, the educators made her feel loved, secure, and right at home. It gave me such peace of mind knowing she was in such caring and capable hands.

We received regular feedback and updates, which kept us closely connected to her day-to-day learning and development. The team also organised amazing activities which were creative, fun, and educational. Over the years, she blossomed in confidence, communication, independence, and social skills. It was incredible to watch her grow in such a warm and enriching environment.

I’m so grateful to the entire team at Guardian for their dedication, support, and the genuine love they showed our daughter. This centre truly became an extension of our family, and we will always look back on our time there with so much gratitude.
Response from the owner:Thank you Sukhi & Pinder for your incredibly kind words. It was a true privilege to care for your daughter from the time she was just 13 months old until your family’s relocation. We’re so glad our centre could be a safe, supportive, and nurturing space for her — and for you. Hearing that she felt loved and secure from day one, and that our regular updates helped you stay connected to her learning, means the world to us. Watching her grow in confidence, communication, and independence was a joy, and we’re thrilled our creative and educational activities contributed to that journey. Your description of our centre as an extension of your family is deeply touching. Thank you for trusting us — we’ll always remember your family fondly and wish you all the best in your new chapter abroad.
Laura P.
Great childcare center! Both my children love going here. The staff are so kind and caring and plan great activities and excursions for all ages.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words! We're happy to hear that both of your children enjoy their time at our centre. Our team is dedicated to providing a warm and caring environment, and it's wonderful to know that our activities and excursions are a hit with the kids. We truly appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to support your family's needs.
Veronica M.
An amazing center!

We came here off numerous recommendations from friends. We started sending our child here at 12months and the staff made the transition so easy. It’s been almost a year and all the staff have taken the time to get to know our son and his interests. They are responsive in addressing his emotional and social developmental needs. The center has a fun but relaxed feel, the educators are calm and quick to respond to the children. The photos and videos of the children doing the science experiments, cooking or enjoying free time is always a highlight. I have also been impressed at how accommodating they are with requests for one-off casual days to accommodate unexpected work.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that you and your son have had such a positive experience with us. It's great to know that our staff have made the transition smooth and have been attentive to your son's needs and interests. We strive to create a fun and relaxed environment where children can thrive, and it's rewarding to hear that our efforts are appreciated. We're also glad that you enjoy the photos and videos of the activities, as we believe it's important for parents to see their children engaged and happy. Your kind words about our flexibility with one-off casual days are much appreciated, as we aim to support our families in every way we can. Thank you again for your feedback and for choosing our centre. We look forward to continuing to support your son's development and making his time with us enjoyable and enriching.
Asuka S.
This centre is wonderful. My child enjoys every day there, and I can pick my child up with peace of mind, always greeted by a smile. The childcare staff are deeply committed to the children, providing care tailored to each child's individual needs, and my child actively engages with them. Although our stay was short-term, the experience my child gained was incredibly meaningful, and I can see how satisfied my child is. I'm grateful for the professional care provided by the staff, and I would highly recommend this centre to other parents.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much Asuka for your wonderful review! We're so pleased to hear that your little one enjoyed their time with us and that you felt reassured by our care. Our wonderful educators are truly dedicated to providing care that is supportive to each individual child, and it's heartwarming to know that this made a meaningful impact on your little one's experience. We truly appreciate your recommendation and are grateful for the opportunity to support your child's growth and happiness, even though it was a short stay. Thank you for choosing our centre and for sharing your positive experience!
alison B.
I had a great experience at this centre and am sorry to have left due to moving away. Nut, Hannah, Pat, Cher, and Lily have been so supportive of my daughter's development at the centre. They are warm and caring and always had a welcoming smile when I was there. They would take the children out on regular excursions, hold regular music days, provide cooking sessions and craft activities. The centre itself is very spacious and clean. Mona and Shiva were also lovely on the administration side. Five stars
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Alison! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and always strive to find ways to improve our centres. Glad to you hear you have had such a great experience!
David B.
Huzaifa Khalid A.
So pleased with the centre as I know my child is safe and happy. All the educators have great sense of empathy & love for the kids. They take them out on excursions and do plenty of entertaining activities. Quality of food is top notch and hygiene around the centre is great. Shiv and Mona are very understanding and I really appreciate what they do for both parents & the kids.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Huzaifa! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and always strive to find ways to improve our centres. Glad to you hear you have had such a great experience!
Michelle G.
5 stars! Guardian Daycare nurtured our daughter & made saying goodbye bittersweet. Shiv & Mona's admin support & sunny smiles were fantastic. The amazing carers instilled beautiful values in our daughter through patience, encouragement & a vibrant learning environment. Her love for arts & crafts, science experiments, music & even show & tell is a testament to their dedication. We're forever grateful for Guardian's positive impact on her life. Best wishes to all!
Response from the owner:Thank you Michelle for your great review for our centre in Collins Street. We are so happy to hear that we are meeting your expectations. We will continue to provide the best possible care for out families and children 😊
Clare F.
A wonderful daycare with excellent staff, my twins were there for short periods at a time (1 week, 5 weeks etc.) while we travelled to Melbourne for work and they always made them really welcome and helped with the adjustments. It’s been wonderful having such accepting adaptable daycare in Melbourne.
Response from the owner:Clare, thank you for the review! We’re so happy you loved your experience and can’t wait to have you back at our centre with your little ones. Until then, we’re here if you need anything 😊
Mona Golestan F.
Wonderful caring team. As a parent I feel very good when seeing my son joins educators and kids happily and he is happy when I pick him up. The strength of the team can be recognised better when there is a difficult situation. We always had a great support from Guardian 101 Collins street.
Ali M.
A welcoming and fantastic daycare and kinder. The educators have a caring nature, and helped our son to develop. The team are looking after individual kid needs and tailor the program to suit all children. They are very attentive with our son and inclusive. It always felt like a second home for our Son! We have been extremely happy with Guardian Childcare & Education Collins Street, and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a warm, friendly and genuinely caring and educational environment for your kids.
Barbara L.
We love Guardian at Collins. The team has been amazing from day 1 and our two children are so well cared for at the centre. We love the staff and the program plus the food is amazing. We are so happy with this centre and kudos to the amazing team of staff.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the awesome review, Barbara! We work hard to meet expectations like yours, and always strive to find ways to improve our centres. Glad to you hear you have had such a great experience! ​
Nicole T.
The educators @ Guardian Collins Street are amazing. We are extremely happy with Shiv and all her team of educators on level 8 and level 9. Most importantly our kids are happy, comfortable and feel safe at the centre.
masoom P.
Faultless kindergarten, the center manager and entire staff are amazing. Special thanks for the flexibility offered.
A lot of genuine care for the children :) . Our daughter has been in little explorer for 6 weeks and the team has helped her settle in very well.
Adela B.
My first child spent 3 wonderful years at Guardian 101 Collins as we both work nearby. The location is excellent for us. The centre provided everything for us so we literally walked in with the child and walked out. The staff was always lovely and the management team was very responsive to our emails. We were happy with the meals provided and the range of curriculum/activities they offered.
My child made a seamless transition into sessional kindergarten and we are grateful for our positive experience with Guardian 101 in his early years.
Inditia S.
Our little one has been going here 3 days per week for over a year. The educators are top notch and really care about the kids as individuals. Our daughter has learned so much, and absolutely loves attending. They learn about yoga, art, aboriginal culture, numbers, and international topics. The food is amazing too. I can't praise Guardian enough, it is a little more pricey than some other centre's but well worth it.
Sprouts Y.
Jennifer M.
Amazing childcare at the top end of the CBD in Melbourne. Sprawling play areas and lots of educational games and lessons provided for the babies and older children. The carers are genuinely interested in ensuring the kids are happy and occupied. Have been very pleased with the centre’s communication, both directly, and via the StoryPark app. Would not hesitate to recommend the centre, our little one loves it.
Google U.
A great child care centre in the heart of the city. The girls that work here are all passionate, lovely educators who take a genuine interest in your child. Their app (Storypark) with daily updates is a great way to see what they have learnt that day. Highly recommend.
Wendy Di F.
Today was the last day my son Elias (9 months old) spent in this centre as we are transitioning him to a centre near home. My husband and I can’t appreciate enough for the love and care my son have received from the educators. Huge thank you to Sophie, Gemma, Neri - You guys are AMAZING. You show genuine love and care to the babies and because of you my husband and I could walk out the centre comfortably knowing that our son will have a good day. Thank you thank you thank you xx ! Sad to say goodby as we have no idea if the new centre will match to this one!
Response from the owner:Hi 刘地, thanks so much for the review. We are thrilled that we've been a part of your son's early education. We are very proud of our environments, programming and staff and we will be sure to pass your kind words onto our team. We hope your son has a smooth transition to his new Centre.
James F.
The staff for the babies room are excellent. Our son loved to see the educators in the morning, and we always knew he was well looked after. Thank you.
Response from the owner:Hi James, thanks so much for leaving a review and for the positive feedback. We are very happy to hear that your son enjoyed the Centre, the team and the programming we have in place at Guardian Collins Street. We will be sure to pass this onto our team.
Michael A.
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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.

Morning

Our friendly Nursery team of familiar educators will be there to greet you and support your baby to settle in for the day.  Breakfast time is available & families are welcome to stay and enjoy with the children. This is also a great chance for conversation to share what is important and how your baby’s night at home was.

Mid-Morning

Our nursery learning environments are set up indoors and outdoors for your baby to engage with a variety of planned experiences while they interact with our team such as exploring picture books, singing songs together. We also offer morning tea.

Middle of the Day

Dependent on the needs of every baby, we time lunch to suit the children. Team members will support your child to eat and/or have a bottle, and when they are ready, are gently settled for sleep or rest. With an open-door policy, families can enjoy lunch/bottle time with your baby if you wish.

Mid-Afternoon

Our nursery planned experiences (both indoor and outdoor) continue and there are opportunities for movement, playing games, more books and songs, or sensory exploration. Afternoon snack is provided.

End of Day

We’ll have your baby’s belongings ready for you at pick up time. The Nursery team will share information about your baby’s day and their learning, preparing you and your child for a smooth transition to your evening. Please grab a piece of fruit or snack on the way out!

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

Hat, wetbag and sunscreen

5 meals per day

5 meals per day

All incursions and excursions

All incursions and excursions

Nappies, wipes and formula

Nappies and wipes

Storypark parenting app

Storypark parenting app

Long day care hours year around

Long day care hours year around

Frequently asked questions

What we do to keep children safe

Create Safe Spaces & Practices

  • Nappy change areas are designed to have visibility windows and are set up for maximum supervision
  • Our policies also cater for team members being in sight or sound of another team member at all times.
  • Safety embedded in daily programs – by conducting daily checklists, comprehensive risk assessments, and more
  • personal phones or devices are not allowed in learning spaces.

Safe People Who Follow Safe Policies

  • Working With Children Checks for all team members. Automatic alerts if a WWCC is revoked and team member not eligible for shifts
  • Rigorous reference checks – must provide previous line managers for their past roles
  • Annual compulsory Suitability Declarations to confirm ongoing fitness to work with children
  • Mandatory reporting and speaking up – report concerns immediately and all concerns will be investigated fully
  • Ongoing mandatory training in child safety, including annual refreshers and leadership-specific modules

Controlling Access to our Centres

  • Multiple levels of security in all centres
  • All visitors must sign in and present photo ID before entry
  • All tradespeople must provide a WWCC & complete Guardian-specific induction.

Read more here

Daily Fee 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) $218.13 $126.40 $95.82
Toddler (2–3) $218.13 $126.40 $95.82
Kinder (3–5) $215.70 $123.97 $93.39

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.

What should I bring, and what do you provide?

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

Who are the team that will be looking after my child?

Collins Street Centre Manager Image

Shivalika and team

Our Centre team, led by our experienced Centre Manager Shivalika, prides themselves on creating a great sense of community for all families.

Each role in the Centre is designed to work together to help create a nurturing environment for every child in each of our learning spaces.

In our Nursery Room, the dedicated team has a special role in creating secure attachments, routines, and strong relationships. Unique to Guardian nurseries is our Baby Ambassador, who is your go-to person for you and your baby’s first 12 months with us. They will know every detail about your baby: how breast or bottle milk is managed, how they like to eat, their sleeping routines, the nappies they wear, and more. With babies as young as six weeks in the Centre, it’s the Baby Ambassador’s job to work with families and Educators to help make our Nursery feel just like home.

Our Educators across the age groups work together to create fun, stimulating, and age-appropriate experiences for every child in their care. They are dedicated, experienced professionals who are allocated to a specific room so they can get to know each child individually and support their learning and development.

As part of our 2-year Flying Start to School program, we have degree-qualified Teachers who use the latest teaching practices to help your child build essential practical and social skills, ensuring they’re ready for their next big adventure—school!

Each room has a Lead Educator or Teacher who is responsible for planning and implementing an effective ongoing cycle of planning, documentation, and evaluation of the room’s learning program.

At the core of the Centre is our Cook—make sure you check out their daily menu when you visit. They help make food part of the learning journey and love seeing how children respond to new and exciting flavours.

The team is supported by a strong Leadership Team, including an Assistant Centre Manager and an Educational Leader.

Every role at the Centre is as important as the next.

How will you share updates about my child’s day?

Great communication is vital in our collaborative partnerships with families at the Centre. We have a variety of different ways we communicate with you about your child’s learning and progress:


  1. Storypark app - Stay connected to your child's day with regular updates, including photos and learning insights

  2. Pick-up and drop-off updates – Our Educators will share highlights from their day, including experiences they enjoyed, mealtimes, and naps to support your evening routine.

  3. In-room learning exchange displays make our weekly learning plans easy to see so you know what your child will be learning.

  4. Centre Newsletters – Great for community connection and wider Centre and team updates.

  5. Development documentation and meetings for your individual child’s progress.


But remember our door is always open.

What are the main features of this Centre

  • Collins St Melbourne CBD child care has range of resource-rich environments, including a family dining area, simulated outdoor spaces, vibrant gardens, a treehouse and multiple water play areas. These impressive environments encourage children to explore and discover. Our included learning programs provide opportunity for children to develop confidence, independence, self-awareness, and self-worth.
  • We offer delicious, seasonal and nutritionally-balanced meals that are specially crafted by our in-house chefs to give children all the nutrients that growing minds and bodies need. Our family dining area encourages families to have breakfast with us (we provide a selection of cereals, toast, spreads and fruit) to help bridge the gap from home to care, creating quality family time and a smooth transition to the start of the working and learning day ahead. We also offer dinner service from 5.30pm for late pick ups.
  • Staffed by a team of highly professional and experienced Educators, we provide a bright and inspiring space that caters to all interests and levels of development. Our multicultural Educators bring a range of languages into the Centre including Mandarin, Arabic, French, Greek, Pilipino, Indonesian and Indian.
  • We love taking our children out on daily excursions into the CBD and surrounds in our eight-seater prams. For these children, the city is their teacher and they love indulging in the culture and creativity on offer. Excursions include visits to the library, art gallery, gardens, playgrounds, museum, cafes and even the graffiti covered lanes of the CBD.
  • Kinder lending library: Educational books that Kinder children can borrow and enjoy at home.

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
Flying start to school

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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Guardian Centres Nearby

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