Enrolling in a service

Wait lists

You'll have to put your child’s name on a wait list if there are no spots available. It can help to enrol all your children at the same service, as most will give priority to siblings.

You can put your child on the wait list at more than one service at once. Consider doing this if your child needs be enrolled by a particular age or time.

Most early childhood education and care services charge a wait list fee. The exact amount will vary between services.

If you have to pay a wait list fee, make sure you know the terms and conditions, including if the fee is refundable if:

• you don’t get a place
• you find a place somewhere else.

The enrolment process

How you apply for and enrol your child in an early childhood education and care service will depend on:

• the type of care you choose
• the individual service.

You may have to pay a bond when you enrol your child, depending on the service. You'll get the bond back when your child leaves the service, if you’ve given the proper notice and your fees are up to date.

Generally, you’ll usually have to:

• complete an enrolment form
• provide documents such as birth certificate, immunisation records and proof of address
• attend an enrolment meeting
• attend orientation.

Once you’ve enrolled your child, you’ll have to confirm the enrolment through your Centrelink account if you’re claiming the Child Care Subsidy or Additional Child Care Subsidy.

Contact the early childhood education and care service directly to find out more about their specific enrolment process.