Childcare Costs Cairns: Fees and Subsidy Guide

Childcare in Cairns

Cairns has a childcare sector serving a diverse community including locals, seasonal workers, tourism industry families, and families from the broader Far North Queensland catchment. GP shortages affect the healthcare sector, but childcare availability is generally reasonable in Cairns itself.

Types of Childcare

Long Day Care (LDC) for 0-5 year olds is the main form. Cairns has a mix of national operators, independent services, and community-controlled childcare services for First Nations families (Apunipima). Kindergarten: Queensland's QKFS funds 15 hours/week of kindy for 4-year-olds.

Costs in Cairns

Cairns LDC fees range from approximately $105-$140/day — below Gold Coast and Brisbane rates. After the CCS, most Cairns families pay significantly less than the headline fee.

Child Care Subsidy

Federal CCS — 90% for families under $80,000. Queensland QKFS subsidises the kindy year. Apply via myGov. Cairns has several First Nations-controlled services funded through separate Indigenous early childhood programs (IEP) for eligible families.

Finding Childcare in Cairns

Starting Blocks (startingblocks.gov.au) lists all approved Cairns services. Availability is generally better than in south-east Queensland cities. Northern beaches and outer Cairns suburbs may have fewer options; families there often use family day care as a more flexible alternative.

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