Looking for childcare in Redfern that fits around work, includes meals and gets your child ready for school? In the heart of Redfern, there's a small childcare centre where every child is known by name.
19th October 2026. Reviewed by Sissy, Centre Director, 7 min read
Oz Education Redfern is a long day care centre and preschool at 104 Eveleigh Street, Redfern, a 2-minute walk from Redfern Station. It cares for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Meals, nappies and a full preschool program are included in the daily fee.
With just 54 places, it has the feel of a local community centre rather than a large chain. It has bright playrooms, a dedicated cot room for babies, an on-site kitchen and two outdoor play areas with a sandpit, right in the middle of the inner city. And children learn through play, guided by Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework.
“At Oz Education Redfern, we want every child and family to feel welcomed, valued and supported. We focus on building strong relationships with families and creating a safe, engaging environment where children can learn, explore and develop at their own pace. Our location also makes it convenient for families who are balancing work and childcare.” Sissy, Centre Director
So what should you look for in childcare in Redfern, what’s included, and what will it really cost? Here’s the full guide.
In this guide:
Where is the childcare centre near Redfern Station?
Which Sydney City suburbs does Oz Education Redfern serve?
What should you look for in child care in Redfern?
What’s different about a small childcare centre?
How does play-based learning work at Oz Education Redfern?
Is there a preschool in Redfern that runs past 3pm?
What’s included in the daily fee?
How much does childcare in Redfern cost after the Child Care Subsidy?
Is there occasional care in Redfern?
How do I book a tour of Oz Education Redfern?
Frequently asked questions
Oz Education Redfern at a glance
- What: Long day care, childcare, preschool and occasional care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years
- Where: 104 Eveleigh Street, Redfern NSW 2016 (entry via Caroline Street), opposite Redfern Station
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm
- Size: 54 places across four age-based rooms
- Learning: Play-based, following the Early Years Learning Framework, with a school-readiness preschool program
- Daily fee: $175 (0 to 3 years), $165 (3 to 6 years), before the Child Care Subsidy
- Included: Fresh meals cooked on site, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, enrichment programs and a parent app
- Funding: Approved for the Child Care Subsidy
- Contact: 1300 088 520
Where is the childcare centre near Redfern Station?
Oz Education Redfern is directly across Lawson Street from Redfern Station, about a 2-minute walk from the main entrance. The front door is on Caroline Street, on the corner of Lawson, Caroline and Eveleigh Streets.
That makes it one of the easiest childcare centres in Sydney to reach by train. Redfern is one of the city’s busiest stations, served by most Sydney Trains lines and just one stop from Central.
- From the station: Leave via the Lawson Street entrance, cross Lawson Street and walk down Caroline Street to the centre entrance.
- On foot or by bike: A short walk from Waterloo, Darlington, Chippendale, Eveleigh, Surry Hills and Alexandria.
- By car: Three dedicated drop-off spots on Caroline Lane make it quick and easy to pull in, drop off and be on your way.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 6pm. Closed on public holidays.
Which Sydney City suburbs does Oz Education Redfern serve?
Families come from Redfern and right across Sydney City. Many live in Redfern and Waterloo. Others come from Darlington, Glebe, Kensington, Woolloomooloo and the CBD. And some families from Marrickville, Strathfield, Burwood and further west catch the train in, dropping off on the way to work in the city.
If you live or work anywhere along the train line into Central, Redfern can be an easy stop on your way.
What should you look for in child care in Redfern?
When you’re choosing child care in Redfern or Sydney City, six things matter most. Here’s what to ask on any tour, and how Oz Education Redfern answers.
- Does it fit your daily route? In the inner city, a centre that’s 10 minutes the wrong way adds 20 minutes to every day. Oz Education Redfern is opposite the station, so drop-off fits into your day.
- How big are the groups? Smaller groups mean more one-on-one time. Redfern is a 54-place centre, not a 120-place one. The baby room is designed for 8 children and the toddler room for 10.
- Is there real outdoor space? Inner-city centres often have small courtyards or rooftop decks. Redfern has two outdoor play areas with a sandpit, so children get fresh air and room to run every day.
- How do children learn? Look for a play-based program that follows the Early Years Learning Framework, with a school-readiness program for 4-year-olds.
- What’s included in the fee? Some centres charge extra for meals, nappies or programs. Check what you’ll actually pay. At Oz Education, those are included.
- Who will care for your child? Ask about educator qualifications, how long the team has been together and how you’ll hear about your child’s day.
The best test is still a visit. Watch how educators talk to the children, look at the outdoor space and ask how they’d settle your child in.
What’s different about a small childcare centre?
In a small centre, educators get to know every child well, and every family too. Oz Education Redfern has 54 places across four rooms. Children are grouped by age, so the room, the routine and the learning match where they’re at.
| Room | Ages | Children |
| Platypus | 6 weeks to 2 years | 8 |
| Koala | 2 to 3 years | 10 |
| Kangaroo | 3 to 4 years | 17 |
| Lizard | 4 to 6 years | 19 |
The Platypus baby room has its own cot room next door, so little ones nap in a quiet space. Meals are cooked fresh in the on-site kitchen. A transition area connects the playrooms to two outdoor play areas with a sandpit, which is rare to find in the inner city.
How does play-based learning work at Oz Education Redfern?
Children learn best through play, and every program at Oz Education Redfern follows Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The EYLF is the national framework that guides how educators support children’s learning, development and wellbeing from birth to 5. Learning also includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, plus dance, sport and cooking. Parents see their child’s day, photos and learning updates in the parent app.
In practice, that looks like this in each room:
Platypus Babies
(6 weeks to 2 years)
Sensory play, music and gentle routines in a calm space.
Koala Toddlers
(2 to 3 years)
Building language, independence and friendships through play.
Kangaroo Pre-kindy
(3 to 4 years)
Early STEM, problem-solving and creative projects, with more structure each term.
Lizard Preschool
(4 to 6 years)
A structured school-readiness program.
Is there a preschool in Redfern that runs past 3pm?
Yes. At Oz Education Redfern, the preschool program runs inside long day care hours. Your 4-year-old gets a structured school-readiness program, and you still get a 7am drop-off and 6pm pick-up. It suits working parents who can’t do a 9am to 3pm day.
The program helps children move confidently into primary school. They practise early literacy and numeracy, following routines, and managing their own belongings and feelings.
The centre is approved for NSW Government fee relief for long day care, which helps eligible families of 3 to 5-year-olds with the cost of early learning. The relief is applied to your fees after the Child Care Subsidy, and the amount depends on your child’s age and your family’s circumstances.
What’s included in the daily fee at Oz Education Redfern?
Everything your child needs for the day. Oz Education fees are all-inclusive, so there’s no extra bag to pack for nappies or lunch.
- Four freshly prepared meals a day, cooked on site
- Nappies, wipes, cot sheets and sunscreen
- Dance, multisports, cooking, gardening and STEM programs
- On-site health checks, including dental checks
- A parent app with daily routines, photos and learning updates
- Flexible 9, 10, 11 or 12-hour sessions
How much does childcare in Redfern cost after the Child Care Subsidy?
Most families pay much less than the daily fee. The Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) pays a share of your fee straight to the centre, and you pay the gap.
Your CCS rate depends on your combined family income. From 6 July 2026, families earning up to $88,520 get 90%. The rate drops by 1% for every $5,000 above that and stops at $538,520. It applies to fees up to $15.19 an hour for children under school age. Since January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee means every eligible family gets at least 72 subsidised hours a fortnight, whatever their work or study hours.
The daily fee at Oz Education Redfern is $175 for children aged 0 to 3 and $165 for children aged 3 to 6. Here’s roughly what you’d pay per day after CCS. Based on an 11-hour day, 7am to 6pm. Confirm session length.
| Combined family income | CCS Rate | You pay per day (0-3 yrs) | You pay per day (3-5 yrs) |
| Up to $88,520 | 90% | $24.62 | $16.50 |
| $138,520 | 80% | $41.33 | $33.00 |
| $188,520 | 70% | $58.04 | $49.50 |
| $238,520 | 60% | $74.75 | $66.00 |
The 0 to 3 gap is a little higher because the $175 fee sits above the government’s hourly cap, so CCS is worked out on $167.09 (11 hours at $15.19).
Not claiming CCS yet? Many families pay more than they need to because they haven’t applied, or don’t think they’re eligible. Our team can walk you through the Centrelink application, which you can do through myGov.
For your own estimate, use our CCS calculator or call the team.
Is there occasional care in Redfern?
Yes. Oz Education Redfern offers occasional care, so you can book a day when you need it, without committing to a regular weekly booking. It suits parents who work flexible or part-time hours, have appointments to get to, or want their child to get used to care before starting regular days. The Child Care Subsidy applies to occasional care too.
Prefer a set routine? You can also book one or more regular days each week. Seeing the same educators and friends each week helps children settle and makes drop-off easier.
How do I book a tour of Oz Education Redfern?
Book online or call the team. The best way to understand the space is to walk through it, meet the Centre Director, educators, and see the playgrounds for yourself.
Book a tour or call 1300 088 520.
Oz Education is an Australian, family-owned early learning provider with more than 45 years of experience. It runs childcare centres across NSW and Victoria.
Ready to see it for yourself? Visit the Oz Education Redfern centre page to meet the team and see what families say.
Is there childcare near Redfern Station?
Yes. Oz Education Redfern is directly across Lawson Street from Redfern Station, about a 2-minute walk, with its entrance on Caroline Street.
What ages does Oz Education Redfern take?
Children from 6 weeks to 6 years, across four rooms: Platypus (babies), Koala (toddlers), Kangaroo (pre-kindy) and Lizard (preschool).
Is Oz Education Redfern a small childcare centre?
Yes. It has 54 places, including a baby room for 8 children, so educators know every child and family by name.
Does Oz Education Redfern use play-based learning?
Yes. All programs are play-based and follow Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), with a school-readiness program for 4 to 6-year-olds.
Is there occasional care in Redfern?
Yes. Oz Education Redfern offers occasional care for children aged 6 weeks to 6 years, so you can book a day when you need it. The Child Care Subsidy applies, and the centre is a 2-minute walk from Redfern Station.
What is included in the fees at Oz Education Redfern?
Fresh meals cooked on site, nappies, wipes, cot sheets, sunscreen, enrichment programs and a parent app.
Is there a preschool program in Redfern for working parents?
Yes. The preschool program for 4 to 6-year-olds runs within long day care hours, 7am to 6pm.
When did Oz Education Redfern open?
It was approved as a long day care service in October 2025.