Child Care Cairns North

Needs Analysis

Cairns North 4870 is served by 5 child care centres for an estimated 194 children under 5 — around 1.3 children per long day care place. See how local fees, occupancy and supply gaps compare with Rest of Qld.

Updated October 7, 2026 5 Centres Pop: 5,828
Centres map & directory

Child care centres

Explore centres on the map, filter by type, then review the directory below.

Id Name Type Places Approval Distance (Km) Day Rate Availability

* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.

Local supply snapshot

Key metrics

Cairns North compared with Rest of Qld

LDC Providers
LDC Providers
2
925
LDC Places
Total LDC Places
155
76,819
Population
Total Population
5,828
2,871,768
Per Place
Persons Per Place
37.6
-
Avg Age
Avg Centre Age
14.8 yrs
12 yrs
0-4 Pop
Population 0-4
194
152,778
Kids Per Place
0-4 Per LDC Place
1.25
2
Workforce
Workforce Impact
Exceptional
Standard
School Att
School Attendance
1,963
-
School Per LDC
School Per LDC Place
12.66
5.8
Avg Fee
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$167
$154
Other
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
90
-

SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:

Approvals Pipeline Childcare development approvals near Cairns North

Childcare development applications on record across the catchment around Cairns North, from lodgement through to determination. Project-by-project detail — addresses, proposed places and status, drawn from council DA / planning registers — is in the full approvals register on this page.

Development approvals is a new addition to AreaSearch. We’re actively expanding council coverage and refining the dataset — details and statuses for some councils may be partial. Check back regularly for the latest pipeline.
Childcare approvals
1
In the local catchment
Proposed places
0
Where disclosed
Under assessment
0
Awaiting determination
Determined
0
Approved or decided

Most recent projects

  • Material Change of Use Health Care Services & Child Care Centre

    Lodged Nov 2021

Free accounts see the most recent project above. Sign in or go Pro to unlock the full approvals register on this page — search by address or DA number, filter by status, council and project scale. Data is drawn from council DA / planning registers.

SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.

Cairns North Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of Cairns North?
As of our last update on October 7, 2026, there are 5 child care centres in Cairns North. Of these, 2 centres provide Long Day Care with 155 places, there is one Out of Hours School Care centre that has 90 places, and 2 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 2 schools, collectively accommodating 1,963 enrolments.
What population do these centres in Cairns North service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Cairns North as at August 2026 stands at a total of 5,828 people, of this 194 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Cairns North?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Cairns North was assessed as having 5,334 people with 209 of these (3.9%) being children under 5 years old. Given changes in localised population estimates by the ABS we estimate that Cairns North has experienced population growth of approximately 494 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Cairns North compare to those in Rest of Qld?
In Cairns North, our latest analysis shows there are 1.3 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is considerably lower than the 2 children per place across Rest of Qld.
How do childcare fees in Cairns North relate to those in Rest of Qld?
Childcare fees in Cairns North average $167, which is slightly higher than the regional average of $154 in Rest of Qld.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Cairns North and Rest of Qld?
In Cairns North, there are 12.7 students per LDC place. This figure is significantly higher than the 5.8 students per LDC place in Rest of Qld.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in Cairns North?
The average LDC in Cairns North was approved 14.8 years ago, while across Rest of Qld the typical centre approval is 12 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for Cairns North?
Yes, workforce activity is exceptional in this area and is a major driver of child care demand.
Who would typically use analysis such as this?
Childcare operators, developers, investors and financiers would typically conduct a thorough child care supply and demand analysis (SDA) on Cairns North before allocating the significant amount of capital required. Boundary-based analysis such as this is often used as an initial guide however, and analysis would be undertaken on the specific site adopting a radial, travel time, or custom catchment to take into account nearby competition and demand drivers that would influence a centre's performance.

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