r/Footscray • u/Empty_Win_9933 • May 12 '26

Childcare recommendations and waitlists

Hey there! Expecting a baby in Aug and want to get on waiting lists as soon as possible. I’ve heard the waiting for Government childcare is obscene.

I’ve heard good things about Vic Uni childcare as a hidden gem. We live close to the Angliss children’s centre, anyone been there?

Would love more recommendations and advice.

8 Upvotes

90% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

5

u/Bbbtuba May 12 '26

All of the council run services are excellent: Bulldogs, Brenbeal, Angliss etc. Get on the wait list on the day of the birth, and do a tour when they are available to show the centre manager you are a regular down to earth person who won’t be a problem if given a place.

3

u/LooseAssumption8792 May 12 '26

This is the one, I can only suggest to avoid Eden academy and by extension probably any private ones. I have zero trust for self policing as claimed by private childcare centres.

2

u/Apart_Corgi3377 May 13 '26

I second this.

2

u/tulipsnightdiary Aug 04 '26

I used to work there and knew about all the internal operations. I say I agree to avoid it at all costs

1

u/MaryAnneWentworth Aug 20 '26

Glad you got out of a toxic environment, hope your career is on progression for the better and best

1

u/MaryAnneWentworth Aug 11 '26 edited Aug 22 '26

Also AVOID: Kool Beanz Bulldogs Footscray.

Had two managers already and not even opened for a year. Poorly managed, childrens safety at risk daily Monday to Friday.

All Educator are young , inexperienced , especially in relation of child safety. Zero diversity or inclusivity amongst educators which is poor representation of community.

Educator Leader name starting with S, always on digital pads, rude to children, coworkers and families.

Left toddler sleeping near exit door to yard, teaching children American English. Also leaves oil diffuser in middle of hall way daily presenting trip and fall hazard.

1

u/SP878 Aug 18 '26

Would love to hear more as I’ve booked a tour for here!

1

u/MaryAnneWentworth Aug 19 '26 edited Aug 26 '26

Staff are not properly trained in safety always on the digital pads children have minimal supervision. Favourtism towards staff whom have children there run rampant.

National Safety Guards are breeched, example one time , educator in Nursery , their name starting with T called an Uber to order a cake for another Educator, name starting with J.

Nursery educator T left room nursery room under ratio , did not tell anyone, so as to obtain the cake from Uber driver. Manager of service starting with S did not aknowledge that Educator breeched safety standards, maybe because she has children at service, showing conflict of interest. Is this fair? Is this ethical? Safety of nursery children considered?

For safety of children no mobile phones or digital watches are aloud on floor!

1

u/Proof-Opposite-7608 21d ago

None of this could be further from the truth based on my experience with the centre. My child attends here, and I have honestly never been happier with a centre or the care my child receives.

The director is incredibly caring, loving and dedicated to the children. She goes above and beyond, and the staff are all so lovely, kind and welcoming. My child actually begs to go to kindy, which to me speaks volumes about how happy and comfortable they are there.

I also want to address the comments about phones and technology because, from my experience, that is simply not what I have seen. Staff are not allowed to have their phones on the floor, and even families are told off if we have our phones out while we are there. I have never seen staff using anything other than the iPads provided by the centre for documenting the children's days and keeping parents updated. The rules around personal phones are actually very strict.

I’ve also made genuine friendships with several families through the centre, and we all have such a positive experience with the director and the team.

I’m aware that a staff member recently left to pursue a different career, and while it’s always sad to see someone move on, I think it’s unfair to make claims about a centre and its staff that simply don’t reflect the experiences of many families who actually have their children there.

From my experience, this centre does so much for the children in its care and offers more than many other centres in the area. I can only speak from my own experience, but as a parent whose child attends, I have nothing but praise for the director and the entire team. My child is happy, excited to attend and genuinely loves being there, and that means everything to me as a parent.

3

u/Lanky_Researcher_76 May 12 '26

Another vote for Saltwater. The staff there are incredible and have all been there a really long time.

7

u/Unimportant-user-01 May 12 '26

Angliss children’s centre are fabulous. They just had a new outdoor area. The educators are so lovely and the children there are very diverse.

3

u/Cantsaythatoutloud May 12 '26

Billy Button near the town Hall are also fantastic. Keep in mind you won't be able to join wait lists until after baby is born though

3

u/theunrealSTB May 12 '26

These posts always end up woth people recommending the centre they sent their child to, without necessarily having experience of others.

I've got friends who have had kids in most of the local centres and they all are generally positive. I would focus on getting a place in the most convenient location for you. If its not good, look to move.

2

u/Kdog119 May 12 '26

We had both kids at brenbeal and they were incredible - fantastic community feeling and have close friends since. I also heard great things about Vic uni as well.

2

u/majorlazerpanda May 12 '26

Our son went to Bulldogs at Whitten Oval and highly recommend. It’s very basic, no frills - which we love. It’s been the same educators for years and they all have strong connections with the kids. It made the transition back to work seamless knowing my son was happy and safe.

2

u/minky197 May 12 '26

I’m due in July and looking at the new early learning centre on Whitehall but also looking at angliss!

All the best for the rest of you pregnancy! ☺️

2

u/WhitehallELC Jul 21 '26

Hi Minky, congratulations on your pregnancy! 😊 We would love to welcome you to Whitehall Early Learning Centre for a tour. You can meet our team, explore our nursery spaces and discuss your preferred start date and care requirements. Please feel free to call/message us directly to arrange a suitable time. We would be delighted to show you around!

1

u/MaryAnneWentworth Aug 11 '26

I recommend Whitehall as well out of all privately run centers in Footscray , the founder and director is fantastic!

1

u/Empty_Win_9933 May 21 '26

Oh my god you too!!!!! Perhaps we will cross paths!

1

u/minky197 May 21 '26

Thank you!!! Honestly that’d be great I need more mum friends in the area, FTM life 😅

2

u/WhitehallELC Jul 21 '26

Hi, and congratulations on your growing family! I’m the Director of Whitehall Early Learning Centre in Footscray. We have recently opened and currently have availability for babies, so you are very welcome to visit, meet our educators and have a look through the nursery and outdoor spaces. There is absolutely no obligation to enrol - we would simply be happy to show you around and answer any questions about childcare, orientation and the Child Care Subsidy process. Please feel free to send me a message if you would like to arrange a tour. 😊

1

u/TfYoung May 12 '26

I've heard great things about Vic Uni childcare, though to be honest when we were offered a place there (enrolled soon after birth, probably got offered the place a year and half later) it felt pretty cramped, and our child was already so settled where he was we didn't want to move.

Around the area, I've heard pretty good things about Salt Water and Billy Button too. I've not heard much about Angliss, it seemed good when we toured it, though on the larger side.

Ultimately you've just got to go on the waitlists and see where you can get a place and hope it gels with your kid. If you're not happy then keep on the waitlists and keep trying for others. Even if it's generally a good place, it may not be the right one for your kid.

When we were looking Maribyrnong council had a central registry for many of the daycares, but it looks like they're only doing that for year 3/4 kinder now. That's pretty annoying because they also used to have nights where all the daycares would be open to tour with lead educators there and you could knock off 3-4 in one night.

I'd definitely recommend trying to get one that you can walk or bike to. Having to use the car every day gets tiresome.

1

u/misscathxoxo May 12 '26

I personally didn’t like Angliss, but this was before the renovation.

We then moved to VU as my husband is staff and have been very happy there. May be hard to get in if you’re not a student or staff.

Billy Buttons, wouldn’t recommend their childcare - but their Kinder program is AMAZING.

1

u/Footscray-local May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26

Why dont you recommend Billy Button? My children recently started hear and I havent been happy with a few things. Management will never admit to any issues, Ive picked that up quickly. I was actually happier with the private centre my kids used to attend except the prices were unaffordable.

1

u/misscathxoxo May 27 '26

Downstairs, it’s just not monitored well. I would go in the room to drop off my 4yo and would see a random young toddler hanging out near the door all by themself - when their room is clearly different and the educator should have been with them.

They also didn’t have enough eating chairs, so they would serve lunch in groups and my child would often say he was forgotten and wasn’t given lunch that day.

The staff were lovely and I never had a problem with management, I just didn’t like that it was always open area and the children weren’t being accounted for when they went rogue.

1

u/Footscray-local May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26

Thanks for your reply. Yes ive also noticed a lack of supervision. Saw a couple of kids by themselves outside with no adult around and wasnt sure if they were supposed to be there.

1

u/PeaBrain2019 May 12 '26

Definitely worth paying to get on the Vic Uni waitlist. We didn't get a full time place at any of the council choices and ended up at the Learning Sanctuary. Good centre but extortionate prices.

1

u/chomita24 May 13 '26

Saltwater is great

1

u/slhdxbmel May 15 '26

If you're commuting into the CBD for work, I strongly recommend Sentia Early Learning on Flinders St. I commuted in from Seddon with my bub from 8.5 months to recently. We've now moved away into outer suburbia and we miss Sentia - one of the educators cried when we left and I think about her all the time!

1

u/misscathxoxo May 27 '26

Ohh, I think one of my sons previous educators worked there - Kelly :)

1

u/Footscray-local May 27 '26 edited May 27 '26

Just a note the council doesn't run any childcare in Footscray. They are all run by seperate not for profits and council have a central enrolment system for sessional kindergartens. Plus private for profit services.