South Melbourne Child Care & Kindergarten
South Melbourne Campus Overview
Only About Children South Melbourne is proud to be rated Exceeding NQS for 10 years running.
Our spacious, purpose-designed campus features two distinct environments: a nurturing nursery and toddler area, and a dedicated kindergarten known for its exceptional two-year school readiness program.
Why Choose Our South Melbourne Childcare Centre?
- Exceeding-rated campus: Recognised under the National Quality Standard as going above and beyond the national standards in areas that matter most to families, including:
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Quality of learning programs
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Health, safety and wellbeing
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Educator qualifications and relationships
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Family partnerships
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Leadership and continuous improvement
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- Dedicated Outdoor Play Spaces: Featuring climbing frames, sand pits, bamboo forest, worm farm and plenty of space for children to explore, create and lead their own play.
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Multicultural Campus: Our dedicated team of multilingual educators who can speak Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Mandarin, Hindi and Italian.
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Local Community Connections: We love connecting with our local community through meaningful excursions -whether it’s a trip to Melbourne Zoo or the South Melbourne Market, where we source fresh produce for our cooking experiences.
- As part of our comprehensive school readiness program, we’ve built strong relationships with nearby primary schools, including Albert Park Primary, Middle Park Primary, and South Melbourne Primary. These connections help make the transition to school smoother and more familiar for children and families alike.
- Play-Based Grow Curriculum: Our innovative Grow Curriculum supports Nursery, Toddler and Preschool children through intentional teaching in small groups, with ongoing monitoring of each child’s progress.
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Passionate Educators & Allied Health Specialists: Experienced educators and allied health specialists create a nurturing learning space that supports each child’s growth alongside their family.
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On-Site Nutrition Program: Fresh, seasonal meals and snacks prepared daily by in-house cooks using dietitian-designed menus.
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All-inclusive Childcare Offering: Includes nappies, formula, bedding, sunscreen, and daily updates via our parent app.
- Occasional Care: OAC Flexi offers parents and guardians flexible, short-notice care in full-day or part-day sessions for children ages 12 weeks to 5 years.
At Only About Children South Melbourne, we offer More Than Childcare. Our unique approach to early years learning goes beyond education to encompass the health, social development and wellbeing of every child in our care. We call it The OAC Way.
Our Learning Spaces
Where to find us
Our unique Campus is located 221 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne, in a heritage listed train station which was built in 1883. Our two buildings are named Westside and Eastside because they are separated by a tram line, which runs between them. We are close to several local schools including South Melbourne Primary, South Melbourne Park Primary, Albert Park Primary and Galilee Primary. Local bus stops are just around the corner and the 96 tram passes between our Westside and Eastside buildings.
We have 3 childcare centres located in Melbourne CBD, please view our Melbourne CBD Campus page to see more.
Interested in learning more? The best place to start is with a tour or call us today on 138 622.
South Melbourne Nursery (6 weeks – 2 years)
At Only About Children South Melbourne, our nursery provides a calm and supportive environment for infants aged 6 weeks to 2 years. Our educators focus on building secure relationships and encouraging safe exploration during this important developmental stage.
Our South Melbourne Nursery Program includes:
- Dedicated indoor and outdoor spaces for infants aged 6 weeks – 2 years.
- Sleeping rooms with a focus on safe sleep practices.
- Dietitian-designed baby meals and snacks.
- Essentials provided: nappies, cots, linen, and sunscreen.
- Gentle play-based learning through our Grow Curriculum
Download the Only About Children Nursery Room Guide to learn more about our infant care approach.
South Melbourne Toddlers (2-3 years)
Our toddler program in South Melbourne supports children aged 2-3 in a nurturing environment that balances learning and play. Our educators use small group activities to build confidence, social skills and early learning foundations.
What’s Included in Our South Melbourne Toddler program:
- Purpose-built learning spaces for toddlers aged 2-3 years
- Balanced structured and unstructured play-based learning through our Grow Curriculum
- Small group learning activities.
- Dietitian-designed meals and snacks are included.
- Calm rest and sleep rooms.
- All essentials provided
Download the Only About Children Toddler Room Guide to learn more about our program and daily routines.
South Melbourne Kindergarten (3-5 years)
At Only About Children South Melbourne, our kindergarten program is designed to give children aged 3-5 the strongest start to school. Led by qualified early childhood teachers, we focus on building school-ready skills through a balance of structured learning and play. Our South Melbourne kindergarten is part of the Victorian Government Free Kinder program, plus recognised with the Kinder Tick.
What’s Included in Our South Melbourne Kindergarten program:
- A play-based Grow curriculum covering literacy, STEM, sustainability, art, and music
- Individual learning and development plans with regular progress check-ins
- School-ready structure with core learning hours from 9am–3pm
- Long daycare hours for added flexibility and social growth
- Fully aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and the National Quality Standard (NQS).
- Health and Social Development support in preparation for school, including free Vision Screening
Download the Only About Children Kindergarten Room Guide to explore how we support your child’s school transition.
Helpful Info
South Melbourne Campus Educators
Irene Jingya Xu
Campus Director
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Irene Jingya Xu
Campus Director
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Childcare Subsidy
For more information, visit our Childcare Subsidy Information (CCS)
Our Learning Spaces
Contact Us
- Open hours: Mon-Fri 7:30am – 6:30pm
- Phone: 138 622
- 221 Ferrars Street, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Under these standards, childcare services are assessed and rated against the seven quality areas, 18 standards, and 58 elements that make up the NQS. Click here to find out more about the NQS quality areas, standards, and elements.
Meet our Campus Director
Irene Jingya Xu
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Irene Jingya Xu
Campus Director
Irene Jingya Xu is the Campus Director at South Melbourne, bringing over seven years of experience in early childhood education. With a Master of Teaching in Early Childhood Education, she is dedicated to creating inclusive, nurturing environments where children, families, and educators thrive.
Irene began her career as an Early Childhood Teacher, recognising the impact of early education on lifelong learning and development. She believes that each child is unique and enjoys supporting educators as they implement playful and innovative teaching methods that make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Building strong relationships with families and fostering a sense of community are also key aspects of her approach.
Fluent in English and Mandarin, Irene enjoys Pilates, yoga, travelling, and gardening in her spare time.
Here’s what our families have to say
South Melbourne Campus Community
A Decade of Excellence at Only About Children South Melbourne
Only About Children South Melbourne has proudly reached a remarkable milestone – ten years of being rated Exceeding the National Quality Standard. This celebration marks not only a decade of exceptional early education and care, but also the trust and connection shared with families over the years.
The Best Kid-Friendly Cafés Around Melbourne
If you live in Melbourne or just visiting, here are some of our top child-friendly cafes you should check out. Aside from serving top-notch babyccinos, these kid-friendly cafés in Melbourne provide entertainment options to keep the little ones busy.Take a look around – view our campus tour
