Enrolment
How to enrol at Lumora
From your first tour to your child's first day — here's how enrolment works at Lumora, step by step.
Five simple steps
Every family's journey looks a little different, but the path is the same: enquire, visit, apply, and start.
- 1
Enquire early
Start looking 6 to 12 months before you need care — and many families register during pregnancy. Baby and infant rooms have the lowest educator-to-child ratios, so places fill quickly and turnover is slow.
- 2
Book a tour
Tours are free, and there's no obligation to enrol. Walk through the centre, meet the educators, and talk about your child's routine and the days that suit your family.
- 3
Complete the enrolment form
If Lumora feels right, we'll give you an enrolment form and talk you through the next steps. There's no pressure to decide on the day.
- 4
Apply for the Child Care Subsidy
CCS is claimed through myGov and can take time to process, so claim well before your child's first day so the subsidy is active from the start.
- 5
Start care and settle in
Once your place is confirmed, we'll plan settling-in visits with you so your child's first days feel familiar and calm.
Ready to start?
Book a tour at Ballarat or Pakenham — it's free, and there's no obligation to enrol.
Book a tour
When should you start?
There's no single legal cut-off, but the practical timing looks like this — and it pays to move early, because demand for quality early learning consistently outpaces supply.
6 to 12 months before
The ideal window to enquire and join waitlists before your preferred start date.
During pregnancy
Many families register before 20 weeks, especially in high-demand suburbs and growth corridors.
From 6 weeks of age
Most centres accept babies from around 6 weeks, though many families begin care closer to the end of parental leave.
Why baby rooms fill up faster than any other room
Infant and nursery rooms operate under the strictest educator-to-child ratios of any age group. Fewer children per educator means fewer places overall, and because babies tend to stay in the same room for a long stretch, spots do not open up often through the year. Starting early isn't about being over-organised — it's about giving yourself a real choice of centre, days and start date.
Sort your Child Care Subsidy early
From 5 January 2026, the Australian Government's 3 Day Guarantee replaced the old activity test: all CCS-eligible families can access at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight — about 3 days each week — regardless of how much work or study you do. Families with higher recognised participation, or who meet certain exemptions, can still access up to 100 hours per fortnight.
CCS is means tested on family income, and most families still pay a gap fee. Because the application through myGov can take time to process, it's worth claiming well before your child's first day.
Estimate what you'll pay
Use our calculator to get a quick estimate of your subsidy percentage and fortnightly out-of-pocket cost.
CCS calculatorSubsidy rules and thresholds can change. Always confirm your own situation with Services Australia.
Questions about your tour
The best way to get to know us
Come and visit. Our Centre Manager will show you around and answer every question, with no pressure to decide on the day.
Book a tourCall Ballarat on 03 5340 0726 or Pakenham on 04 06 929 780