| Id | Name | Type | Places | Approval | Distance (Km) | Day Rate | Availability |
|---|
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Key Metrics
Lightning Ridge / Rest of NSW
SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:
Lightning Ridge Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of Lightning Ridge?
As of our last update on January 30, 2026, there are 3 child care centres in Lightning Ridge. Of these, 2 centres provide Long Day Care with 58 places, and a single centre providing other child care services. The suburb also contains a single school with 349 enrolments.
What population do these centres in Lightning Ridge service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Lightning Ridge as at August 2025 stands at a total of 2,003 people, of this 104 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Lightning Ridge?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Lightning Ridge was assessed as having 1,946 people with 89 of these (4.6%) being children under 5 years old. Given changes in localised population estimates by the ABS we estimate that Lightning Ridge has experienced population growth of approximately 57 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Lightning Ridge compare to those in Rest of NSW?
In Lightning Ridge, our latest analysis shows there are 1.8 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is considerably lower than the 2.6 children per place across Rest of NSW.
How do childcare fees in Lightning Ridge relate to those in Rest of NSW?
Childcare fees in Lightning Ridge average $392, which is significantly higher than the regional average of $149 in Rest of NSW.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Lightning Ridge and Rest of NSW?
In Lightning Ridge, there are 6 students per LDC place. This figure is about the same as the 6.3 students per LDC place in Rest of NSW.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in Lightning Ridge?
The average LDC in Lightning Ridge was approved 11.9 years ago, while across Rest of NSW the typical centre approval is 13 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for Lightning Ridge?
No, daily workforce activity is considered low in this area and is unlikely to be a significant 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 Lightning Ridge 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.
Comprehensive Demographic Analysis
Understanding child care demand requires deep analysis of population growth trends, dwelling supply forecasts, and workforce participation rates. Our detailed suburb profiles provide the complete demographic picture, including census data, building approvals, migration patterns, and economic indicators that drive child care demand in each area.
View the full demographic analysis, population projections, and market insights for this area:
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