Child Care Shoalhaven Heads

Needs Analysis

Demand and supply analysis of Child Care Centres and demographic drivers for Shoalhaven Heads 2535. Key stats for childcare operators, investors and developers.

Updated January 30, 2026 3 Centres Pop: 3,184
Id Name Type Places Approval Distance (Km) Day Rate Availability

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

Key Metrics

Shoalhaven Heads / Rest of NSW

LDC Providers
LDC Providers
1
1,058
LDC Places
Total LDC Places
29
67,247
Population
Total Population
3,184
2,973,097
Per Place
Persons Per Place
109.8
-
Avg Age
Avg Centre Age
16.8 yrs
13 yrs
0-4 Pop
Population 0-4
163
167,084
Kids Per Place
0-4 Per LDC Place
5.62
2.6
Workforce
Workforce Impact
Low
Standard
School Att
School Attendance
173
-
School Per LDC
School Per LDC Place
5.97
6.3
Avg Fee
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$133
$149
Other
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
35
-

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

Shoalhaven Heads Child Care FAQ

What is the Child Care supply composition of Shoalhaven Heads?

As of our last update on January 30, 2026, there are 3 child care centres in Shoalhaven Heads. Of these, a single centre provides Long Day Care admissions with 29 places, there is one Out of Hours School Care centre that has 35 places, and a single centre providing other child care services. The suburb also contains a single school with 173 enrolments.

What population do these centres in Shoalhaven Heads service?

AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Shoalhaven Heads as at August 2025 stands at a total of 3,184 people, of this 163 are estimated to be children under five years of age.

Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Shoalhaven Heads?

Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Shoalhaven Heads was assessed as having 3,248 people with 156 of these (4.8%) being children under 5 years old. Given changes in localised population estimates by the ABS we estimate that Shoalhaven Heads has experienced a population decline of approximately 64 people from the 2021 Census.

How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Shoalhaven Heads compare to those in Rest of NSW?

In Shoalhaven Heads, our latest analysis shows there are 5.6 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is significantly higher than the 2.6 children per place across Rest of NSW.

How do childcare fees in Shoalhaven Heads relate to those in Rest of NSW?

Childcare fees in Shoalhaven Heads average $133, which is slightly lower than the regional average of $149 in Rest of NSW.

How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Shoalhaven Heads and Rest of NSW?

In Shoalhaven Heads, 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 Shoalhaven Heads?

The average LDC in Shoalhaven Heads was approved 16.8 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 Shoalhaven Heads?

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 Shoalhaven Heads 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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