Council Early Learning

Djila-tjarriu Kindergarten, Girrabanya Children’s Centre, Rowan View Children’s Centre and Wendouree Children’s Centre 

Centre-based childcare and kindergarten is available for children up to school age. For more information including service tours, contact us childcare@ballarat.vic.gov.au or 5320 5720.

To register for kindergarten at any of our services, please visit ballarat.vic.gov.au/kindergarten and follow the prompts to register.  

Our vision is for trusting, inclusive, interconnected relationships between children, families, educators and communities that support children to be happy, safe and to reach their full potential.

Our mission is to provide the children of Ballarat with learning opportunities that provide the best possible start in life through:

• Regular intentional strategies that actively teach, promote and support children’s health and safety.  
• Responsive interactions that contribute to healthy brain development.  
• Equitable and inclusive practices that support all children and families to participate.  
• Welcoming and inviting learning environments that excite children towards learning.  
• Programs with a long-standing reputation for quality, delivered by dedicated, knowledgeable professionals.  
• Reciprocal relationships with families that recognise their expertise and their roles as the first, and most important, educators for children.  
• Meaningful connections with our community as contributing citizens.  
• Planned curriculums that enrich and extend each child’s learning and development. 

All City of Ballarat Children’s Services are guided by the National Quality Framework and the Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework.  

Our learning environments are expertly designed to offer a mix of natural and man-made play-based learning opportunities both indoors and outdoors.  

Our services are active participants in the Achievement Program, Smiles for Miles and Sunsmart to create a healthy place for all to work, learn and live.  

Our services are child-centred and family friendly, offering personalised programs and fun family events such as picnics and art shows. 

Kindergarten Session hours: 8:30am-1:30pm Monday to Friday, excluding school holidays and public holidays. 

We are excited to welcome families into our beautiful purpose-built space. Aligning with City of Ballarat’s vision, mission and philosophies, our teachers will deliver the very best in education for three- and four-year-old children.

Services offered:  

• 15 hours of FREE government funded three and four-year-old kindergarten. Sessions run from 8:30am-1:30pm.  
• Excursions and regular outings with our local community.  

We provide:  

• Excursions and regular outings with our local community.  
• Space to explore the outdoors and connect with nature with regular visits to the neighbouring Djila-tjarriu Playground.

Contact:

• Address: 18 Donegal Drive, Alfredton
• Room booking: Community Hub Booking Request Form
• Enquiries: communityhubs@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Kindergarten: Register with City of Ballarat's Central Kindergarten Registration or call 5320 5720
• Newsletter: Sign up to receive updates on activities at the Community Hubs 

Hours of operation: 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays, 1 annual professional learning day, and 1 week Christmas closure)

Licenced Places: 75 

At Wendouree Children’s Centre, our philosophy is driven by our respectful relationships with children and families.  Our learning rooms offer personalised care for your child and flexible routines to ensure your child’s needs are met. We respect that all children are unique and have a voice, and that parents are the first educator of their child. We encourage children to learn cooperatively as a community and we actively engage in the learning process.

Services offered:  

• Long day care from 6 weeks to primary school age. Choose between 10 or 11 hours of care.
• 15 hours of FREE government funded three- and four-year-old kindergarten. Sessions run from 8:30am-1:30pm with the option of before and after kinder care and holiday care (fees apply).
• On-site Maternal and Child Health service.  

We provide:  

• Excursions and regular outings with our local community, including the library and local nursing home.  
• A Mandarin language program in our 4-year-old program, funded by the Victorian Government’s Little Languages initiative.  
• Nutritious breakfasts, lunches and morning and afternoon snacks based on healthy eating guidelines, made fresh in the centre by our centre cook.
• Nappies and sunscreen.

Contact:

• Phone: 5320 8200
• Email: childcare@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Address: 408 Gillies Street North (Corner of Norman & Gillies Streets)

Hours of operation: 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays, 1 annual professional learning day, and 1 week Christmas closure)

Licenced Places: 98

At Girrabanya Children’s Centre, our philosophy is to provide a home-like atmosphere where children learn and develop new skills through exploration of learning spaces and open-ended play. We value flexible routines to promote an unhurried learning environment for our children. We value the many different cultures and backgrounds of our families and promote a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in our programs.  

Services offered:  

• Long day care from 6 weeks to primary school age.  
• 15 hours of FREE government funded three- and four-year-old kindergarten. Sessions run from 8:30am-1:30pm with the option of before and after kinder care and holiday care (fees apply).
• Occasional Childcare, providing flexible casual childcare to support parents to meet family needs (e.g. studying, shopping, keeping appointments, casual work hours, socialisation) with three session options:  
  • Morning sessions: between 7am and 12:30pm.  
  • Afternoon sessions: between 12:30pm and 6:00pm.
  • Full day of care: Choose between 10 or 11 hours of care.  
• On-site Maternal and Child Health and Childhood Immunisation services.  

We provide:  

• Excursions and regular outings with our local community, including the nature walks, local shops and local schools.  
• Nutritious breakfasts, lunches (excluding occasional care) and morning and afternoon snacks based on healthy eating guidelines, made fresh in the centre by our centre cook.
• Nappies (long-day care program only) and sunscreen. 

Contact:

• Phone: 5320 5720
• Email: childcare@ballarat.vic.gov.au
• Address: 11B Steinfeld Street, Ballarat

Childcare hours: by referral only, 9:30am-2:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays, 1 annual professional learning day, and 2 week Christmas closure)

Kindergarten hours: 9am-2pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, excluding school holidays and public holidays

Licenced Places: 61

At the newly refurbished Rowan View Children’s Centre, we believe each child deserves the same access to learning opportunities, and we deliver a high-quality early childhood education program. We work together with families to create the best outcomes for children, having high expectations for children and valuing diversity.  

Services offered:  

• 15 hours of FREE government funded three- and four-year-old kindergarten. Sessions run from 9:00am-2:00pm.
• A referral-only childcare program for eligible families.  

We provide:  

• Excursions and regular outings with our local community.  
• A positive transition to school experience, with the service located next to Forest Street Primary School.  

Contact:

• Phone: 5320 5720 
• Address: 402 Forest Street, Wendouree