Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Great Beginnings accepts child care applications for future enrolments, and we offer enrolment placements as they become available. Our Family Support team will add your child’s name on our waitlist if a centre is currently full in your child’s age group. We will then contact you as soon as places become available.

We also do monthly check-ins to review the availability, and you will receive a text message confirming if you’re still happy to remain on the waitlist each month. When spots do become vacant, we will give you a call to tell you the good news!

If you would like to get an update at any point, you’re welcome to reach out on our Web Chat or give us a call. Our Family Support team can also help you find more centres near you, with the same offerings at the centre you are interested in that have immediate availability.

All child care and early education centres abide by educator to child ratios as determined by the National Quality Framework (NQF). The below table outlines the minimum ratios followed by our centres. 

Age of children	Educator to child ratio	Applies
Birth to 24 months	1:4	All states and territories
Over 24 months and less than 36 months	1:5	All states and territories excluding VIC
	1:4	VIC
Over 36 months up to and including preschool age	1:11	ACT, NT, QLD, VIC
	1:10	NSW
	1:10 for centre-based services other than a preschool 1:10 for disadvantaged preschools 1:11 for preschools other than a disadvantaged preschool	SA
	1:10 2:25 for children attending a preschool program	TAS
	1:10	WA
Over preschool age	1:15	NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC, NSW
	1:11	ACT
	1:13 (or 1:10 if kindergarten children are in attendance)	WA

Some child care centres provide sheets, formula, nappies and wipes, so you may not need to remember to pack them!

Otherwise, for babies, be sure to include: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toy or blanket, sun hat, three spare outfits, spare socks, a jumper and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten aged children, start with: Spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks, a jumper and a plastic bag for wet clothes.

Plus anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, dummies, medication.

Yes, the nursery room educator will be able to assist you with this during your orientation or Stay and Play.

The child care and early education centre will:

• Administer first aid that is appropriate for the injury sustained by the child, as guided by the Educators Senior First Aid Training and Administering First Aid Centre Policy.
• Notify you as soon as possible.
• Ensure that further medical attention is recommended to the families in instances where the child’s injury is such that medical attention is required but does not require emergency medical treatment (e.g. Ambulance).

Ensure that emergency services are contacted in instances where the child has been injured, and the injuries are of such a nature as to be beyond the First Aid Training of the Education and Care Staff.

• Please call the early education and child care centre on the direct phone line and notify them as soon as possible, including the estimated arrival time, so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

• Alternative food will be offered to your child when possible. Families can supply food if there are specific requirements.

This depends on the individual centre. Our Family Support Team will be able to advise when discussing your child care and early education centre of choice.

Public holidays are charged at the normal daily fee. Families will be eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for public holidays if they have not exceeded allowable yearly absences. 

We offer 9-hour, 10-hour and 12-hour Flexible Hours sessions. Find out more about optimising your child care subsidy hours here.

Under the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), families are allowed 42 absence days per child, per financial year. These can be taken for any reason, including public holidays and when children are sick, without the need for families to provide documentation.

Absences should only be claimed when care would have been provided if the child was not absent, and the family has been charged a fee for the session of care. CCS is only payable for absences submitted before a child has started at a service, or after a child’s final day of actual attendance at a service, under limited circumstances.

Please click here for more information about absences.