Simplify your childcare search with KindiCare

Whether you need childcare now, or in the future, KindiCare makes it super easy to find that perfect place!

The KindiCare platform is totally free for families to use, so all you need to do is install the KindiCare App or jump on kindicare.com to get started.

You can then search for childcare by postcode, suburb, centre or brand; and KindiCare makes it simple to:

• Compare the quality, cost, convenience and reviews of different services
• Save your favourites and build a shortlist
• Enquire with services you’re interested in
• Book centre visits and tours for your family, and
• Apply for a great childcare place.

How to use KindiCare to your best advantage

The KindiCare App and Childcare Comparison Website are designed to be parent-friendly. So you don’t need endless hours or intense brainpower to make sense of your childcare options.

However, here are four tips to help you get the very most out of KindiCare’s clever capabilities!

1. Create an account

Although you might want to start with a quick, anonymous search, you’ll get a lot more benefit from the KindiCare platform if you create an account and populate your profile.

Adding some basic info about your family makes childcare enquiries and applications straight-forward.

And updating your Child Care Subsidy settings enables you to see your family’s estimated fees after Child Care Subsidy when looking at different services and sessions.

Also, make sure you tap your Childcare Match preferences into the KindiCare App, adding things like your ideal start date, preferred quality ratings, and what you want to spend.

KindiCare will then serve up Childcare Match suggestions that align with your preferences. You can then decide which ones you love, and which ones to leave (then maybe revisit with a Second Look).

2. Take a moment to understand the KindiCare Rating

You’ll see that every childcare listing has a little pink box with a white figure inside it. This is the service's unique KindiCare Rating, and it's a great guide when you’re thinking about the quality, performance and customer satisfaction of the childcare service, compared to all the other services in the market.

You can read all about the KindiCare Rating here, but generally speaking, the higher the number, the better the service, and a KindiCare Rating between 8.5 and 10 bodes well.

In each listing, you’ll be able to see the service’s KindiCare Rating compared to the average KindiCare Rating for the area. So make sure your prospective service compares favourably.

And take some time too, to understand the National Quality Standard (NQS) Rating that a centre has been given by its regulatory authority, because this is based on seven key quality areas and holds a lot of weight.

3. Consider cost, but also value, when looking at prospective services

Childcare isn’t cheap, and although it’s really important to judge different services according to what they charge and what you can afford after the Child Care Subsidy, it’s also helpful to look at the service’s Value for Money Rating.

This unique KindiCare Rating tells you whether a service is good value for the price they’re charging, compared with services of the same type in the same area.

You can read all about it here, but basically, a Good, Very Good or Excellent Value for Money Rating is preferred to a Poor or Fair one.

4. Keep KindiCare as a great resource

KindiCare will help you find a fantastic childcare fit, and it’s a platform you can keep coming back to.

The Hints, Tips & Stories section is regularly updated with childcare news, expert tips, yummy recipes plus great giveaways, and the same goes for their socials.  KindiCare’s Instagram and Facebook pages are always entertaining, so feel free to follow, like and share, and there’s definitely a lot to love about the KindiCare platform!

Need flexible childcare while you explore your options?

If you’re touring centres or transitioning back to work, Kiddo is here to help with trusted, verified babysitters and nannies — available on demand. Book a carer today and enjoy peace of mind while you plan your family’s next step.