Your journey starts here
Families eligible for the Child Care Subsidy can now access a minimum of 3 days per week of subsidised early learning and care. It’s the perfect time to discover a place where your child can learn, grow and belong.
Come and experience how we support your child’s individual learning journey.
Childcare and kindergarten in Hughesdale, Victoria
Welcome to Headstart Hughesdale. Our daycare and early learning centre is a convenient choice for local families in Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Oakleigh, Carnegie, Chadstone and Bentleigh in Melbourne. Headstart Hughesdale offers long day care and a kindergarten program for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, with extended hours to suit busy families.
Our purpose-built daycare and kindergarten centre in Hughesdale offers innovative early learning programs in a safe and nurturing environment. Our Hughesdale childcare centre boasts expansive outdoor environments, including a climbing fort, water play areas, sandpits, vegetable gardens, and sensory exploration spaces, with each age group having their own designated outdoor area. Inside, our spacious rooms are filled with natural light, and we incorporate natural and recycled materials into our program. Our passionate early childhood educators are dedicated to building strong relationships with children and families. We have 4 dedicated Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers, who deliver a Government-approved Kindergarten program to prepare children for school. As part of the daily fee, we offer a weekly music class for all children and a sports program for our kindergarten children.
Why you’ll love Headstart Hughesdale
Spacious outdoor environments
Passionate, qualified educators
Nappies and wipes provided
Chef-prepared meals
Individual learning plans
Government-approved Kindergarten program
Family communication app
Extended/flexible hours
Allergy and anaphylaxis aware
Sun protection aware
Music classes
Sports program
Meet our Centre Manager
Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten program
Our Hughesdale early learning centre proudly offers the Victorian Government-approved Kindergarten program, led by our Bachelor-qualified Early Childhood Teachers. This means eligible children will be able to participate in our Kindergarten program, at no cost, up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year.
Our kindergarten program is designed to nurture your child’s growth across all key learning areas, including literacy, numeracy, social-emotional development, resilience, and self-regulation. Children learn to care for their belongings, manage daily routines, express themselves, and interact positively with others. Our program includes pre-writing activities, early literacy and numeracy, and problem-solving to spark curiosity and a love of learning. Through intentional teaching and engaging experiences, we help children build the confidence and independence needed for a smooth transition to school.
Our close partnerships with St Kevin’s College and Hughesdale Primary School support strong connections and school transitions. We also host events such as our Celebration of Learning and Kindergarten Information Night, allowing families to share in their child’s progress and learning journey.
We’re all about healthy, nutritious eating
Our Hughesdale child care centre provides a balanced, nutritious four-week rotating menu prepared by our in-house chef, following the Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) guidelines. Meals include breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, and a late snack, freshly made each day. We regularly share the menu with families and welcome feedback to meet children’s preferences and dietary needs.
Personalised support for every child
We support each child’s learning journey through personalised Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) that reflect their interests, strengths, and developmental needs. These plans guide us in setting meaningful goals and creating engaging experiences that nurture each child’s growth. Educators use regular observations, intentional teaching, and family input to tailor our program to each child’s learning style.
For children learning English as an additional language, we work closely with families to understand their home language and culture. Educators incorporate key words and familiar phrases to support communication and help each child feel safe, understood, and included. This approach builds confidence and promotes a strong sense of belonging.
Fees
The Child Care Subsidy can reduce your daily out-of-pocket fee by up to 95% depending on your family’s entitlements.
Nursery
0 – 2 years
$196.80/day
Toddler
2 – 4 years
$196.80/day
Kindergarten
4 – 5 years
$196.80/day
Child Care Subsidy Estimator
Discover how much child care subsidy you may be entitled to by entering the fields below.
2026 3-Day Guarantee
From 5th January 2026, based on the information you have entered, here's an estimate of your CCS entitlements and your out-of-pocket costs.
Total Fees
$0.00
Estimated CCS Fee Subsidy
$0.00
Kindergarten/Preschool Subsidy
$0.00
Out of Pocket Cost (what you pay)
$0.00
Matrix Out of Pocket Cost
Is your CCS working for you? Check the out-of-pocket cost matrix per child against session lengths and weekly days below. Please note: The table in the matrix only shows out-of-pocket costs after CCS (Child Care Subsidy).
| Child 1 | 1 Day | 2 Days | 3 Days | 4 Days | 5 Days |
|---|
*Kindergarten/preschool subsidy applied: $0.00
Explore nearby G8 Education centres
Looking for other great childcare, kindergarten or preschool options? Discover more G8 Education centres near you!
Frequently asked questions
A centre tour is a convenient way to experience the childcare centre of your choice and meet with our qualified educators at a time that is suitable for your family’s schedule. Click here to book a tour online.
On the day of the tour, you can observe practices and interactions within the centre environment. You’ll be able to see all the rooms and playgrounds, ask the team members any questions you have in mind, and get all the information you need to make the best decision for your child.
Enrolling is simple, and our Family Support Team will guide you through each step.
First, find your local centre and book a tour so you can meet the team and explore the learning environment. If the centre is the right fit and a place is available, you’ll receive an enrolment offer for your child. If a place is not currently available in your child’s age group, we can add your child to the waitlist and keep you updated.
To finalise your enrolment, you’ll complete an online enrolment form through a secure link sent by our Family Support Team. You’ll also need to provide key details and documents, including your child’s birth certificate, Medicare details, immunisation history statement and, if eligible, your Child Care Subsidy details.
Before your child’s first day, you may be invited to attend a Stay and Play session. This gives your child time to explore the centre, meet their educators, and start feeling comfortable in their new environment. Once your paperwork is complete, your child is ready to start their early learning journey with us.
Starting child care is a big milestone, and a little preparation can help your child feel more comfortable and confident.
Before your child’s first day, you can talk positively about their new centre, explain what their day might look like, and practise small routines such as packing their bag, saying goodbye, washing hands and sitting down for meals. You may also like to visit the centre with your child, meet their educators and ask our team about what to bring on the first day.
When your child starts, our educators will take the time to get to know your child’s routine, interests, comfort items and individual needs. Settling in looks different for every child, so we work closely with families to help children feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
Most of our child care and early education centres offer nappies and wipes, sunscreen and hats, as well as nutritious meals prepared by our in-house cook. Some centres also provide sheets and formula, so you may not need to remember to pack them.
For nursery children, be sure to bring: nappy rash cream, dummies, bottles and teats, comfort toys or blankets, three spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.
For toddlers and preschool or kindergarten-aged children, it’s best to bring: spare underwear, water bottle or sippy cup, sun hat, closed-toe shoes, two spare outfits, spare socks and a plastic bag for wet clothes.
Plus, anything else your individual child may need, such as breast milk, a sleeping bag, a comforter or medication.
It’s best to speak to your centre of choice for a full list of everything included.
Headstart uses Xplor Home as our family communication app. It is the best and easiest way to keep track of your child’s day.
After you enrol your child with the centre, you can utilise Xplor Home to book child care days, manage your account, receive the photographs that capture your child’s learning, learn about your child’s progress, as well as keep up-to-date with upcoming centre events and important information.
If your child shows signs of an infectious illness when they arrive at the centre or becomes sick during the day, you may be notified that you need to make alternative arrangements or pick up your child from the centre and keep them home until they are no longer infectious. While we understand that this can be inconvenient, Headstart is committed to maintaining a healthy environment and reducing the risk of infection for all children.
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 requiring families to provide documentation.
Contact us
We look forward to welcoming your family.