TAFE NSW Wollongong Children’s Centre

Located on the TAFE NSW Wollongong campus, our Children's Centre is a welcoming, nature-rich place for children to learn and play.

Children enjoy a large outdoor area with real grass, a sandpit and a shaded rainforest-style play space. These outdoor areas encourage exploration and imaginative play.

Inside, we have two learning spaces:

• The Early Learning Room for infants and toddlers aged 6 weeks to 3 years.

• The Preschool Room for children aged 3 to 6 years.

Each room nurtures curiosity, creativity and growth, in a warm and supportive setting.

If you're interested in joining our team of early childhood educators, see below.

Location

R Block Foleys Lane,
Wollongong NSW 2500

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Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:15 am – 5:15 pm, open 48 weeks per year
Ages: 6 weeks to 6 years
Number of children: 46
National Quality Standard (NQS) rating: Meeting

Our educators create a warm and welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported and valued. Many of our educators have worked at the centre for more than 20 years. Our team speaks a range of languages, including Italian, Serbian, Slovenian and Dhivehi. This helps us celebrate different cultures and support a diverse community.

We believe in play-based learning experiences, where exploration takes centre stage. This includes water play on hot days, muddy adventures and safe, risky play that builds confidence.

We have a large natural outdoor environment with many insects, lizards and birds. Children help care for our vegetable garden and other garden spaces.

Families provide fruit for morning tea and we provide milk. Children bring their own lunch and afternoon snack. This helps to make the mealtime routine comforting and familiar.

As part of the TAFE NSW community, we embrace diversity and inclusion. Events we may celebrate include Chinese New Year, Harmony Week, Vegie Month, Eid al-Fitr, National Reconciliation Week and National NAIDOC Week.

A calm and playful start

Each day at our Children’s Centre blends structured routines with play-based learning experiences. We start in a relaxed family group indoors, before heading outside for play.

Care and connection for every child

As more educators arrive, all children head outdoors. Meals - morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea - are enjoyed in individual rooms, where children connect and share stories. After lunch, preschoolers rest or sleep, while babies and toddlers follow personalised sleep routines.

Winding down and wrapping up

Afternoons offer quieter activities, like reading and playdough, for non-sleepers. Later, we reunite in family groups outdoors before transitioning inside as the day winds down. With a mix of group time and individual learning, every child thrives in our warm, nurturing environment.

“The entire team at TAFE NSW Wollongong Children’s Centre are incredibly compassionate (and patient) human beings who find wonderfully creative ways to engage children in learning activities that foster holistic health and wellbeing.”

Parent of a preschooler

“I couldn’t recommend TAFE NSW Wollongong Children’s Centre more. The educators are wonderful and my daughter is loved and cared for. If we could keep all our kids at this centre I would! Thanks again, guys!”

Parent of an infant

“Very inclusive, caring and kind. All educators have attention to detail for the whole family.”

Parent of a preschooler"

To start the enrolment process, you can:

• call us on 02 7921 1540

• or submit an email enquiry below

• or fill out and email the Application for Care Form [PDF, 1.7 MB].

We’ll then confirm receipt and add your child to our waiting list. When spots open up, we review all applications carefully and reach out to families with available days.

To submit your application, you will need to provide:

• Birth certificate
• Medicare card
• Health care/Pension card (if you have one)
• Immunisation record (must be through Medicare, blue books are not accepted).

Please note: Children must meet government immunisation requirements or have an approved exemption to be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

There are five steps to complete enrolment:

1. Apply for Child Care Subsidy (if eligible) - To be confirmed between the Early Childhood Director (ECD) and parents/guardians.
2. Agree on care arrangements - The ECD and parent/guardian confirm the child’s care details.
3. Submit enrolment - The ECD submits an enrolment notice to Centrelink via HubHello.
4. Confirm enrolment - The parents/guardians verify the enrolment with Centrelink.
5. Secure enrolment - If you accept an offer, we’ll send a formal letter detailing the next steps. This includes submitting a birth certificate, proof of immunisation and a security deposit to secure your childcare placement.

Once the enrolment is completed and approved your entitlements can be calculated, and payments made. If there are no vacancies, we can add you to the waiting list.

Under Family Assistance Law, all children attending an early learning centre must have an enrolment notice, regardless of CCS eligibility. For eligible families, Centrelink/Services Australia can only process CCS claims once the correct enrolment is in place.

For any questions, please email us or call us on 02 7921 1540.

If you still have questions, please call us directly on 02 7921 1540 or email us below.

We look forward to welcoming your family to our Children’s Centre.