Getting started at Goodstart FAQs

You can find out more by visiting your local centre's webpage and submit an enquiry or book a tour. 

Age groups can vary from centre to centre, but generally we cater for children aged from six weeks to school age. You can find out more about age groups at your local centres by using the Find a centre tool.

Operating hours vary between centres, however they are generally open from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year. We're not open on weekends or public holidays. We recommend checking with your local centre about their opening times.
 

Yes, Goodstart promotes healthy eating by providing children with up to five nutritious and diverse meals each day to support their growth and wellbeing. A nutritious diet is vital for children’s development, so we make sure to provide meals that give children all the nutrients and energy they need. Children love to eat together, so mealtimes at a centre are always fun!

If families choose to provide food from home, we ask that it is balanced and nutritious to help maintain a consistent approach to healthy eating.

Yes, our centres provide nappies and wipes for children. 

Yes, sunscreen is included in your daily fees.

At Goodstart, we take sun safety seriously. Our educators ensure all children wear hats, apply sunscreen, and play in shaded areas during peak UV hours. We strictly adhere to sun safety protocols and monitor UV levels to protect your child while enjoying outdoor fun.

However, if your child has sensitive skin, please feel free to provide your preferred brand.

The National Quality Framework (NQF) was the result of an agreement between all Australian governments to work together to provide better educational and developmental outcomes for children.  

The NQF introduced a new quality standard in 2012 to improve education and care across long daycare, family daycare, preschool/kindergarten, and outside school hours care.

The National Quality Standard (NQS) is a key aspect of the National Quality Framework (NQF) and sets a high, national benchmark for early childhood education and care.

The NQS brings together the 7 key quality areas that are important to outcomes for children:

• Educational program and practice
• Children’s health and safety
• Physical environment
• Staffing arrangements
• Relationships with children
• Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
• Leadership and service management

Learn more on the ACECQA website

The very first step in your enrolment journey with Goodstart is finding your local centre and booking a tour. Your family will have the opportunity see the centre, meet our amazing team, and learn all about our quality approach to early learning.

To book a tour online, go on your local centre’s page and click “Book a tour” at the top section of the page. You can find your local centre here Find a centre | Goodstart

To book over the phone, call our Family Services Team on 1800 222 543.

When you tour a centre, come prepared with questions that matter to your family. You might ask: 

• What is your educational philosophy?
• What does a typical day look like?
• How do you communicate learning and progress?
• What are your policies on illness, hygiene and giving medication?
• How do you help children settle in?
• How do you guide behaviour and support development?
• How do you manage allergies, dietary needs or additional needs?
• What opportunities exist for parent involvement?
• What are your staff-to-child ratios and how are they maintained?
• What qualifications do your educators hold?

Take notes and trust your instincts. Our centres welcome your questions and are proud to share how they support families. 

We are passionate about ensuring all children have access to early learning and have facilities and resources in place in our centre to support children with specific requirements or additional needs - from allergies to greater care needs such as physical or learning disabilities or behavioural concerns.
   
Please speak with your local Goodstart Centre Director about how we can work together to support your child's individual needs.

CCS is a payment from the Government that will provide financial assistance towards the cost of your child’s care and reduce the cost of your total childcare fees. It is available to you if you are a parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending a childcare program approved by the Government – like Goodstart’s government approved program.

The amount of CCS you are eligible to will depends on a few factors:

• How much recognised activity you and your partner undertake each fortnight, e.g. working, volunteering and studying. The edible amount is based on the lesser activity figure for a member of a couple.
• Your combined family income.
• The childcare fees you pay (hourly rate caps apply for each service type).
• The number and age of children you have in government approved care.
• If you meet Australian residency requirements.
• If your child meets current immunisation requirements.

Once your family is approved for CCS, the subsidy is paid directly to your child’s early learning centre.

In practice, this means the Government contributes towards your childcare fees and your family pays the remaining gap fee.

Your subsidy percentage is based primarily on your family’s combined annual income. Services Australia will also calculate your recognised activity (e.g. work, study and volunteering hours) and notify you of the number of hours you are eligible for subsidised fees.

Fees vary from centre to centre and are also dependent on things such as the number of days your child attends, the age of your child as well as your eligibility for any government subsidies. We recommend speaking with your Centre Director or visit our Child Care Subsidy estimator.  

Create a myGov Account

• Go to myGov and select Create an account.
• Link your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN) to your myGov account

Submit a CCS Claim

• Sign in to your myGov account linked to Centrelink.
• Navigate to My family > Child Care Subsidy summary.
• Provide details about your child, your income estimate, and your childcare arrangements.

Confirm Enrolment

• Ask your childcare provider to submit your child’s enrolment.
• Check and confirm the enrolment details through your Centrelink online account

The Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) provides extra help with fees to families facing barriers to childcare, including families experiencing temporary financial hardship and families caring for a child who is vulnerable or at risk. ACCS will usually cover all of a child’s childcare fees.  

Read more about eligibility and requirements for ACCS on the Services Australia website.

If you have more than one child aged 5 or under, you may be eligible for a higher subsidy rate for your second and subsequent children.

From January 2026, Australian families will have access to at least 72 hours of subsidised early learning each fortnight. That’s three days of quality care every week, no matter your activity level. The 3 Day Guarantee provides more affordable early learning for more families. Learn more about the 3 Day Guarantee

The 3 Day Guarantee goes even further for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families, offering 100 hours of subsidised early learning per fortnight for every child. 

Yes, fees still apply for sick days, however your Centre Director may be able to arrange a make-up or swap day at their discretion. The Child Care Subsidy will cover up to 42 absence days a year with no documentation and unlimited sick days if you're able to provide a medical certificate or similar.

Normal fees apply for all absences that fall on a usual day of attendance. However, Goodstart offers a holiday discount for up to four weeks of care per financial year. Please note families need to provide written notification two weeks in advance to apply the holiday discount (25 per cent discount on the full fee). Under exceptional circumstances, the holiday discount may be applied outside these requirements at the discretion of the Centre Director. Fee payments need to be up to date to receive the holiday discount.

When you enrol at a Goodstart centre, we'll support you every step of the way. Our Centre Directors will invite you to take a tour of the centre first so you can see where your child will be cared for and to ensure you are comfortable with your decision. They will then provide you with an enrolment pack that contains everything you need to know about the centre, information we need from you about your child for example their routine, as well as a quote for your daily fees. We encourage you to ask as many questions as you like, we are here to support both you and your child.
 

Once you have visited a centre and met the team, you will be guided through the online enrolment form to complete before your child’s first day. 

If there are no vacancies at the centre of your choice, you may want to join their waitlist. These waitlists are regularly reviewed, and families are contacted once a place becomes available. If you need immediate placement, please phone our Family Services Team on 1800 222 543 and the team can explore alternative options.

To facilitate a smooth transition for your child and family, we recommend 3 short visits before your first full day. Please contact your Centre Director to arrange your orientation sessions.

Each centre has different requirements for what to pack, and your Centre Director will provide you with a detailed list upon your enrolment. Consider packing the below items, and please ensure all belongings are clearly labelled.

• A sun safe hat which covers your child’s face, neck and ears
• Change of clothes (when involved with hands-on play-based learning, your child may get a little messy!)
• Bib or two
• Comfort item (if required), such as a toy or blanket
• Dummy in a sealed, named container (if required)
• Sleeping sheet set or blanket for nap time
• Bottles
• Expressed milk (if required)
• Nappies, wipes and cream (if your centre does not provide them)
• Water bottle with a lid or a sippy cup
• Any medications – please give these to centre staff to manage directly.

• You will need to provide us with a copy of your child’s Birth Certificate and Immunisation History Statement.
• We’ll also need their Customer Reference Number (CRN) so we can link your account with Centrelink and ensure your CCS is applied correctly from the start. You will also need to apply for your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) with Services Australia prior to commencing. Please note, it can take Services Australia 4-6 weeks to process your claim.

When we email your offer, you will also receive a Storypark invitation. Please accept this invitation, as Storypark is used to share your child’s routines, observations, and updates, and to communicate directly with their educators.

First days can be tough for both parents and children, so it’s natural to feel a bit anxious about this big change to the family routine.

Our centre staff are more than happy to explain the process of dropping off your child and saying goodbye. They may also stay in touch during your child’s first day to let you know how things are going.

At the end of each day, you can talk to your Room Leader or read through their observations to get a feel for how well your child is adapting to the change. Please also check Storypark where you can see your child’s daily routines, observations, and updates.

If your child has a medication condition or allergies, please bring your action plan (e.g. a colour copy of any ASCIA Action plans) provided from your Doctor/ GP and an identifiable photo of your child's face before or during your first orientation session. From there, we will consult with you to complete the Goodstart Medical Conditions Plan.

When children play, it can look like they're simply having fun – building a tower, pretending to be a shopkeeper, digging in the garden, or drawing a treasure map.  What's really happening is powerful, complex learning.  

Through play, children explore, negotiate, take risks, and create meaning. They're learning to think, connect ideas, communicate and regulate their feelings. These are all important components of learning that assist children in their interactions today and into the future.  

At Goodstart, every educator is committed to making that happen. Through thoughtful and intentional play, we support children in exploring their world, discovering their abilities, and developing into active, lifelong learners. 

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) describes the principles, practices and outcomes essential to young children’s learning from birth to five years of age, as well as their transition to school. It's part of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for early childhood education and care.
 
 The framework has a strong emphasis on play-based learning, recognising the importance of communication and language, including early literacy and numeracy, and social and emotional development. There are five learning outcomes defined by the EYLF:

• Children have a strong sense of identity.
• Children are connected with and contribute to their world.
• Children have a strong sense of wellbeing.
• Children are confident and involved learners.
• Children are effective communicators.

Find out more about the EYLF.

The first five years are critical for your child’s development. In fact, around 80% of brain development happens by age five, laying the foundation for learning, wellbeing and lifelong success. That's why giving children the best start early can make such a lasting difference.