In Brisbane’s wealthiest postcodes, parents are learning that high property values and disposable income don’t always translate into high-quality early education. A recent review of 50 childcare centres across the city’s most affluent suburbs revealed a surprising disconnect between postcode prestige and childcare performance — but one suburb, Wavell Heights, is quietly setting a different standard.
Read: Wavell State High Educator Brett Dascombe Among Global Teacher Prize Finalists
Situated just north of Brisbane’s CBD, Wavell Heights has long been admired for its leafy streets, family-friendly vibe, and strong community spirit. Now, it’s making headlines for another reason: the exceptional quality of its childcare services.
While many high-income areas struggled to deliver top-tier ratings, Wavell Heights stood out, with three centres—Wavell Heights Kindergarten, Penola Casa, and Building Futures Montessori securing an Excellent rating — one of the highest possible under the KindiCare Quality Index.
Wavell Heights Kindergarten
Cnr Edinburgh Castle Rd and Cressey Street, Wavell Heights
KindiCare rating: 9.1
Our daughter spent her Kindy year at WHK and we couldn’t have made a better decision sending her to WHK. The staff is very friendly, open and extremely caring for the kids. The education and play they are doing was always enjoyable and well organized. The children in her class room bonded very nicely and we are still in touch with them. We can 100% recommend this Kindy
Janett G
Penola Casa
91 Rode Rd, Wavell Heights
KindiCare rating: 9.0
Of all the parenting decisions so far, putting our daughter into Penola has been the best one. It is an outstanding centre with a very big heart (and a HUGE new playground). The management and educators have been terrific, and they have very good staff longevity. It has been four wonderful years and we will greatly miss the Penola chapter in our lives!
Joanne Morgan
Building Futures Montessori
33 Brae Street, Wavell Heights
KindiCare rating: 8.9
A wonderful centre that has a ‘home away from home’ feel. The staff are very kind and nurturing, and deliver high quality Montessori educational programs. Our child is thriving at the centre and we are delighted to be part of the Building Futures Montessori community.
Samantha Dando
This independent national ranking draws on official government assessments and parent feedback, offering a snapshot of how well childcare providers are meeting the needs of young families.
In contrast to suburbs like Clayfield, where only one centre reached Excellent while others lagged behind, Wavell Heights is showing what’s possible when strong leadership, community engagement, and consistent quality standards come together.
Read: YMCA Wavell Heights Opens Enrolment for Care Programs
These ratings don’t just reflect compliance with regulations; they signal environments where children are thriving, staff are supported, and families feel confident in their choice of care. It’s a notable achievement in a city where even premium suburbs aren’t guaranteed top performance.
Still, the suburb isn’t without its challenges. One of its services did receive the lowest possible rating of Fair, underscoring that even in top-performing areas, there’s room for improvement and vigilance is required.
Overall, Wavell Heights’ strong showing serves as a quiet reminder that quality doesn’t always follow the money and that communities investing in early education can deliver real value for their youngest residents, regardless of postcode prestige.
As Brisbane families weigh up their childcare options, Wavell Heights is proving that excellence is less about affluence, and more about getting the fundamentals right.
Published 21-May-2025
