Kids on Collins marks 30 years, launches scholarship for non-subsidy families

One of Melbourne CBD’s longest-running early childhood centres will mark 30 years of operation in 2026.

Award-winning Kids on Collins Nursery and Early Education, established in 1996, has provided early learning and care for children from infancy to kindergarten age in the heart of the city for three decades.

To mark the milestone, the centre has announced a new initiative aimed at families who are not eligible for the federal Child Care Subsidy (CCS). From next year, Kids-on-Collins will offer a reduced daily rate of $150 per child for these families.

The move comes as ongoing concerns mount over rising childcare costs in the CBD, with many centres charging more than $200 per child per day. For families with multiple children or those without access to CCS, these costs can make early childcare unaffordable, often forcing parents to scale back or leave full-time work.

Centre director Jennifer Farrell, who has led Kids on Collins for the past 20 years, said the initiative reflects a belief that early education should be accessible to all children.

“We want to assist families who aren’t eligible for CCS to access childcare,” Ms Farrell said. “A strong foundation in early education stays with a child throughout their formal schooling, and that’s something our educators deeply believe in.”

Owned by the non-profit Eltham College Foundation Ltd, the centre was recognised at the 2025 Melbourne Local Business Awards, receiving the title of Most Outstanding Early Education Centre – Melbourne CBD.

Kids on Collins is also recognised as the first childcare centre in Australia to feature “Gardens in the Sky” – an outdoor learning space for children. Its longevity has seen some families return a generation later, with parents who attended the centre as children now enrolling their own.

The new scholarship coincides with Victoria’s three-year-old kindergarten enrolment period, which runs in January and February. The state government funds kindergarten programs for three- and four-year-olds, providing five to 15 hours of play-based learning per week delivered by qualified early childhood teachers.

However, not all families benefit equally. Majeeda Rehman, who arrived from Lebanon last year with her husband and three young children on a work visa, said eligibility rules can exclude many.

“The Child Care Subsidy is income-tested and tied to residency requirements,” she said. “Families like ours – temporary visa holders, recent arrivals or some dual-income households – can miss out.”

While Victoria’s Free Kinder program can offset up to about $2,100 per year, it applies only to kindergarten hours, leaving many CBD families paying full fees for most of their childcare needs.

Located in the heritage-listed MacPherson Building on Collins St, Kids on Collins offers long day care alongside three- and four-year-old kindergarten programs.

Parents say consistency and care are key to its appeal. Judy Burns, whose child attends the centre, described the experience as “exceptional”.

“The educators don’t just look after the children – they truly get to know them, nurture them and celebrate their personalities every day,” she said.

As it celebrates 30 years, Kids on Collins is using the milestone to address the ongoing challenges of affordability and access facing families in Melbourne’s CBD.