Guardian Childcare & Education South Yarra

  • 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 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
  • We know you want the best for your child. At Guardian South Yarra we are proud of our quality learning, incredible resources, and the care and attention we provide each child.
  • Our experienced and passionate Educators are dedicated to helping children learn and grow in a welcoming and supportive environment. Your child deserves the best in the area.

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

South Yarra Map Image

HOURS

Mon to Fri 7:00am to 6:30pm

ADDRESS

Level 1, 670 Chapel Street South Yarra, VIC, 3141

SPACES AVAILABLE NOW ACROSS ROOMS

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

Welcome to our Centre

At Guardian South Yarra, our daycare provides a nurturing environment where your child’s growth is celebrated. We offer high quality of care and education, from our Nursery to our government-funded Flying Start to School kindergarten program.

What makes our South Yarra childcare special?

• Unique indoor spaces including a ‘Wellness Centre’ for daily yoga and an ‘Invention Centre’ to inspire new ideas.
• Rooftop garden with a water pump, creek bed and climbing structures.
• Personalised To BE Me learning programs to meet each child where they are and support their individual development.

Our experienced team ensures that every child’s safety and wellbeing is the top priority. At our early learning centre, families feel they truly belong.

South Yarra Centre Manager Image

Meet our Centre Manager Bex and team

“It is an honour to support and advocate for the rights of young children to be safe, to flourish, and have access to exemplary education."

Daily Fees

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

View Daily Fees

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

4.5
(35)
Georgina M.
Georgina M.
01:55 17 Jun 25
As a Wayapa Wuurrk Earth Connection Practitioner I have been booked by the South Yarra Guardian Childcare & Education Centre to conduct Incursions to teach the children about Earth Connection and caring for the Earth. I have found the staff to be professional and very supportive and the children engaging and happy to learn about caring for the Earth. The Centre has many resources for Earth Care and Indigenous learning spaces and have collaborated with me to provide the most engaging and fun activities to care for the Earth and learn about Indigenous wisdoms. It is always a delight for me to visit the South Yarra Centre. It provides varied opportunities and space for the children to interact and learn with Earth based teachings. #wayapawuurrk
Yd X
Yd X
04:35 16 Apr 25
Absolutely lovely centre, my daughter has been attending since she's 7 months old and now one year has past - kids grow so fast. staff have been really supportive and communicative.
Sarina A
Sarina A
06:01 11 Apr 25
We’ve had a wonderful experience at south Yarra Guardian daycare centre! All staffs are caring especially Ruth, ceeda, Maria. the environment is safe and nurturing, and my daughter absolutely loves going every day. A special thank you to Bex and her team, who are always so helpful, approachable, and goes above and beyond to support the children and parents. Highly recommended!
Sofia V.
Sofia V.
22:43 18 Mar 25
I can't say enough good things about Guardian South Yarra. From the moment we enrolled my eldest son (can’t believe it’s been over 2 years now!), it's been such a positive experience. The staff goes above and beyond to accommodate his individual needs, which has made such a difference in his development and comfort. I also love how they embrace cultural diversity and inclusion, making sure every child feels valued and celebrated. The customer service is outstanding — they’re always friendly, responsive, and genuinely care about the well-being of the children.I’ve enjoyed it so much that now my 10-month-old has also joined, and I couldn’t be happier with the attention and care they’ve given him. I appreciate the welcoming, nurturing environment they’ve created, and I feel confident knowing both of my children are in such good hands. Highly recommend this daycare to any parent looking for a safe, caring, and inclusive environment for their child!
Eduardo Ayala R.
Eduardo Ayala R.
22:37 18 Mar 25
We couldn’t be happier with Guardian! They are not only friendly, flexible, and professional but also truly nurturing and passionate about what they do.One of the standout aspects of this childcare is its commitment to inclusion, multiculturalism, and diversity. The environment is welcoming to all families and backgrounds, and it’s wonderful to see children learning about different cultures, traditions, and perspectives in such a natural and engaging way. They celebrate diversity and make every child feel valued and included.The range of activities offered is fantastic, there’s always something exciting happening! From creative arts and music to outdoor play and educational experiences, our child is constantly engaged, learning, and having fun. The facilities are modern, clean, and designed with the children’s needs in mind, making drop-offs and pick-ups incredibly convenient.Most importantly, we have complete peace of mind knowing our child is in a safe, loving, and supportive environment every day. We highly recommend Guardian to any parent looking for a place where their little one will thrive!
Lareina R.
Lareina R.
07:26 16 Dec 24
We’ve been here for more than a year and I cannot thank this team enough for their committed educators! The centre is always filled with interesting activities for the kids too.
Shannon D.
Shannon D.
00:05 16 Apr 24
A wonderful centre with attentive and caring staff.My child is well looked after and thrives in her learning and development under their guidance
Keshia A.
Keshia A.
02:09 21 Feb 24
A wonderful childcare centre with excellent facilities, staff and other families. My child had such a wonderful experience attending Guardian South Yarra and I highly recommend it to other parents - your children will thrive and be well looked after by amazing carers.
Louise S.
Louise S.
21:36 16 Oct 23
We love it here. My daughter has been going here for 2 years and has so much wonderful things to say about her day. She loves all the teachers there too Kelly, Wendy, Loretta, Bhuwana, Madhurhi, just to name a few. She is always excited to go and she learns so much, they also helped with toilet training her which was fantastic. I can’t wait for my son to start there next year.
Elle Y.
Elle Y.
05:43 14 Sep 23
Holly K.
Holly K.
05:20 18 Apr 23
Juliana S
Juliana S
06:29 11 Jan 23
My son has attended Guardian South Yarra since he was eight months old and loved it!He smiles since we go through the front door and I can see he feels comfortable and happy with his educators and peers.We've experienced two different classrooms, and both teams were lovely with educators committed to knowing your child and make them have a good time.It's a big centre with a small community spirit.Also, from the management perspective, they are very friendly and always happy to accommodate family's needs when possible.
Sofie D.
Sofie D.
00:27 10 Jan 23
Roberta T.
Roberta T.
03:55 01 Nov 22
Love the centre, educators, management and team. I have two kids attending full time and they are both super happy to go every day. They do so many things there and learn so much. It is incredible all the work the educators do. Thank you for helping us taking care of our children.5 Stars ♥️
isabelle C.
isabelle C.
01:55 26 Jul 22
Anna M.
Anna M.
10:13 23 Jun 22
simon Z.
simon Z.
02:10 07 Jun 22
Jenita S
Jenita S
01:39 16 Nov 21
Shweta D
Shweta D
01:26 11 Nov 21
Napatnan K.
Napatnan K.
11:07 09 Nov 21
Joanna K.
Joanna K.
00:13 01 Apr 21
The staff and management of this day care are fantastic. They respond so well to my children's needs and have supported us as a family for 3 years. The community of educators is fantastic with a special shout out to Aimee, Ollie, Alicia, Sunny, Tina and Valery. These staff members have gone above and beyond to encourage my kids in their areas of interest and help them develop confident personalities. Thanks so much to the whole team- including Shane in the kitchen who is a magician getting these kids to eat veggies!
Lauren S.
Lauren S.
11:32 28 Oct 20
We loved being a part of the River Garden family! High quality facilities and educators. Admin staff always went above and beyond also, including being very flexible and accommodating. I could not have felt more comfortable sending my child to River Garden and am thankful for the wonderful time we had as a part of the community.
xiao N.
xiao N.
02:20 29 Jun 20
We have been in river garden for 2years already, it’s the best childcare in Melbourne. Really friendly staff and educators with love in the heart. The educators is stable not as other private cahildcare. Best environment , always have new and up to date toys come. The price is high but it’s worth it. Highly recommended
Samantha D.
Samantha D.
12:26 03 Jun 20
Great service from Amy today, she went above and beyond ✨
Sloane
Sloane
05:17 17 Feb 20
Belated review. We loved Rivergarden! Wonderful caring staff and gorgeous spaces. Shout out to Rabia, such an exceptional educator.
Charlotte C.
Charlotte C.
05:22 10 Oct 19
My daughter loves going here- she has a great relationship with all of her carers, enjoys the wonderful outings that they have planned and has learnt and developed so much in her time here.What I love the most about the centre is of extra curricular programs they offer as well as the excellent and frequent communication we get from the Management team. We will be staying at the centre long term :)
Kathy R
Kathy R
14:40 01 Oct 19
Great facilities with lovely staff and manager. They do lots of activities to engage children. Makes life a lot easier dropping off my daughter there knowing she's been well taken care of. She loves her educator Divya.
Lynn V
Lynn V
05:59 23 Jul 19
Lovely childcare with great facilities. The rooftop playground is great! My little girl loves Teacher Joana who is very kind and patient to the kids.
Aadi S.
Aadi S.
07:59 18 Feb 19
Mirela A.
Mirela A.
03:47 01 Apr 16
Kelly L.
Kelly L.
03:50 16 Apr 25
We’re really happy with the care and support our child receives. It’s a lovely center with great staff, and we appreciate all the effort that goes into making it such a positive place. Thank you!
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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) $217.69 $121.79 $89.82
Toddler (2–3) $217.69 $121.79 $89.82
Kinder (3–5) $216.51 $120.61 $88.64

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?

South Yarra Centre Manager Image

Bex and team

Our Centre team, led by our experienced Centre Manager Bex, 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

Our South Yarra childcare centre offers:

  • Passionate Educators who focus on relationships with children and families
  • Expansive learning spaces with a ‘Wellness Centre’ for daily yoga, and an ‘Invention Centre’ to inspire curiosity, fun, and a sense of belonging
  • Engaging outdoor environment with spacious rooftop garden and yard featuring a water pump, a creek bed and natural climbing structures
  • Leading learning programs such as Joy of Reading, Cooking, Out & About Community Excursions, Sustainability and more
  • On-site Chef providing fresh meals and snacks daily, full of the best seasonal ingredients
  • Baby nappies, SPF 50+ sunscreen, all nutritious meals and snacks, high-quality formula and bed linen
  • Extended hours of care each weekday from 7:30am to 6:30pm

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

No state fee relief information available.

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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