| Id | Name | Type | Places | Approval | Distance (Km) | Day Rate | Availability |
|---|
* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.
Key Metrics
Sunshine Beach / Rest of Qld
LDC Providers
2
926
Total LDC Places
149
76,912
Total Population
2,749
2,852,242
Persons Per Place
18.4
-
Avg Centre Age
16.2 yrs
12 yrs
Population 0-4
105
156,634
0-4 Per LDC Place
0.7
2.1
Workforce Impact
Low
Standard
School Attendance
2,944
-
School Per LDC Place
19.76
5.8
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$178
$152
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
90
-
SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:
Approvals Pipeline
Childcare development approvals near Sunshine Beach
Development applications around Sunshine Beach
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.
CC Approvals
—
In the local catchment
Proposed Places
—
Where disclosed
Under Assessment
—
Awaiting determination
Determined
—
Approved or decided
Approvals pipeline
Status, location, timing and project scale
Loading childcare approvals…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Places | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Sunshine Beach Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of Sunshine Beach?
As of our last update on May 24, 2026, there are 8 child care centres in Sunshine Beach. Of these, 2 centres provide Long Day Care with 149 places, there is one Out of Hours School Care centre that has 90 places, and 5 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 5 schools, collectively accommodating 2,944 enrolments.
What population do these centres in Sunshine Beach service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for Sunshine Beach as at May 2026 stands at a total of 2,749 people, of this 105 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for Sunshine Beach?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census Sunshine Beach was assessed as having 2,480 people with 92 of these (3.7%) being children under 5 years old. Given changes in localised population estimates by the ABS we estimate that Sunshine Beach has experienced population growth of approximately 269 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in Sunshine Beach compare to those in Rest of Qld?
In Sunshine Beach, our latest analysis shows there are 0.7 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 2.1 children per place across Rest of Qld.
How do childcare fees in Sunshine Beach relate to those in Rest of Qld?
Childcare fees in Sunshine Beach average $178, which is slightly higher than the regional average of $152 in Rest of Qld.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in Sunshine Beach and Rest of Qld?
In Sunshine Beach, there are 19.8 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 Sunshine Beach?
The average LDC in Sunshine Beach was approved 16.2 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 Sunshine Beach?
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 Sunshine Beach 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.
Find & Assess a Centre
Search by name, postcode, or address to explore supply & demand for any child care or school catchment in Australia.
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Nearby suburbs & deeper analysis
What will drive demand from here?
Centre supply and current places are an output, not a leading indicator. For the demand-side drivers of this area — population growth, 0–4 cohort trends, dwelling supply, workforce participation and competing development pipeline — open the relevant deep-dive page.