Ask any parent searching for childcare what the hardest part is, and most will say the same thing: getting off the waiting list. Childcare demand varies dramatically across Australia, and depending on your suburb, waitlists can stretch from a few months to well over a year.
But here's something most families don't realise: there are ways to dramatically increase your chances of getting an offer. These aren't tricks or shortcuts; they're simply strategies that work with how centres actually manage their waitlists, and most parents have no idea they exist.
We took to the streets to ask working mums what their number one childcare hack was:
Here's the waiting list hack every parent should know, plus a few strategies that can fast-track your enrolment.
1. Update your preferred start date regularly
Most centres sort their waitlists by a combination of age, priority category, and realistic start date. If you listed "flexible" when you first joined the list, or put a date far into the future, your name may be sitting there untouched while other families get called first.
But when you update your preferred start date, something interesting happens. You move back into an active queue, the admin team receives a notification, and you become top of mind. This means you're considered first for upcoming vacancies, even if your original position on the list hasn't technically changed.
Many families don't know this system exists. Educators often say they call the parents who update their details most recently because they know those families are still actively looking. It's a simple action that signals you're ready, and it can make all the difference.
2. Be flexible with days, especially starting mid-week
Mondays and Fridays are the most in-demand days at almost every centre. Parents naturally want their childcare week to align neatly with a traditional work week, which means Wednesdays and Thursdays often open up first.
If you can accept any two consecutive days, or even a mid-week start like Tuesday and Wednesday, you can dramatically improve your odds of getting a spot sooner. The best part is that you can always shift to your preferred days later once you're already enrolled and have built a relationship with the centre. Being flexible at the start doesn't lock you in forever, but it does get your foot in the door.
"Don't rely solely on the grandparents. Always have a backup plan; childcare is much more reliable!" - Anika, Geelong
3. Tour early, even before you need care
Many parents wait until they're desperate for care before they tour a centre. By then, they're often too late to make a strong impression or build rapport with the team.
Centres prioritise families who have visited, formally expressed interest, asked thoughtful questions, and started the relationship early. A tour doesn't obligate you to anything, but it signals genuine intent. It shows you're serious about that centre specifically, not just adding your name to every list in the area. That distinction matters more than most parents realise.
4. Ask about the "age milestone drop"
Most centres transition children into new rooms at predictable ages: 12 months, 18 months, 2 years, and 3 years. These transitions happen as babies move from nursery to toddler rooms, or toddlers move into pre-kindy groups. Every time a room transition happens, new vacancies open up.
Ask the centre this specific question: "When is your next room transition? That might be a good time for us to start." This single question can dramatically improve your timing because it shows you understand how centres operate, and it helps the admin team match your child's age to upcoming availability. You're not just waiting passively anymore. You're aligning your family with the centre's natural rhythm.
5. Consider partial or temporary enrolment as a foot in the door
Here's something many parents don't know: if a centre offers you one day instead of the three you want, take it anyway.
Once you're enrolled, everything changes. You become an existing family, which means you get priority for extra days when they become available. You're first to be offered vacancies, and transfers between rooms become much easier. Many families build up to their ideal schedule this way, starting with whatever days they can get and expanding once they're already part of the centre community.
It might feel frustrating to accept less than you need at first, but being inside the system is always better than being outside of it. Existing families almost always have first access to new spots.
6. Expand your search radius, even slightly
Sometimes moving your search by just five minutes, one suburb over, or even across a main road opens you to centres with much shorter wait times. High-demand suburbs often sit right next to more available ones, and parents overlook these options simply because they didn't think to look.
Care for Kids' suburb search tool makes this easy. You can compare availability, fees, and programs across neighbouring areas without having to call each centre individually. It's worth broadening your search just slightly to see what opens up.
7. Use the "leaving soon?" question
Some centres already know which families are planning to move houses, start school, or change their days in the coming months. The admin team often knows this information before the waitlist system is officially updated.
Ask this simple, friendly question: "Are any families reducing days or moving in the next few months?" It's not pushy or inappropriate. You're simply asking for information that might help you plan better, and educators appreciate families who communicate openly. This question alone can sometimes get you an offer weeks or even months earlier than you expected.
8. Join more than one waitlist
This isn't about disloyalty or hedging your bets in a negative way. It's about giving your family the best chance at finding the right fit.
Use Care for Kids to shortlist your dream centre, a very good backup, and a flexible-day option. Then compare offers as they come in. You're not obligated to accept the first offer you get, and having multiple options gives you leverage to make the best decision for your family rather than feeling pressured to take whatever becomes available first.
Bottom line? Most parents think waitlists are fixed. They're not.
Waitlists move constantly. New rooms open, staffing changes, children age up into different groups, families move suburbs, working arrangements shift, and babies start or leave care unexpectedly. Being active, flexible, and visible lets you move with this flow instead of waiting passively for your name to eventually come up.
Regular updates, smart questions, and flexibility give you a genuine advantage and help you secure a place you feel confident about. This isn't gaming the system. It's simply understanding how it works, and using that knowledge to advocate effectively for your family. Childcare waitlists can feel overwhelming, but you have more control than you think.
Ready to get off the waitlist faster?
Care for Kids makes it easy to search, compare, and join multiple waitlists across your area in minutes. Search by suburb, filter by availability, and contact centres directly to ask the right questions. The sooner you start building those relationships, the sooner you'll get the call.
Search childcare near you to find shorter wait times in your suburb.
