{"id":23442,"date":"2026-09-21T19:22:55","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T11:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-storage-cubby-australia\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T19:22:55","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T11:22:55","slug":"childcare-storage-cubby-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/childcare-storage-cubby-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Childcare Storage and Cubby Planning Australia 2026: Hallway vs Room &#038; 3.25 m\u00b2"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style id=\"ws-hide-post-excerpt\">\n.single-post .elementor-widget-theme-post-excerpt,\n.single-post .entry-summary,\n.single-post .post-excerpt { display: none !important; }\n<\/style>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Childcare storage and cubby planning in Australia<\/strong> is a floor-plan decision first. ACECQA does not publish a legal cubby millimetre. <a href=\"https:\/\/classic.austlii.edu.au\/au\/legis\/nsw\/consol_reg\/eacsnr475\/s107.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Regulation 107<\/a> does publish what happens if you park a locker bank in the play room: any area permanently set aside for storage is excluded from the <strong>3.25 m\u00b2 unencumbered indoor<\/strong> test. Get the location wrong and you fail space before the first tour. Get the count wrong and bags sit on the floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ws-country-guides\" style=\"margin:24px 0;padding:16px 20px;background:#f4f8fc;border-left:4px solid #123d73;border-radius:6px;\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;color:#263544;\">\n    <strong>Australia planning cluster:<\/strong>\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/how-to-start-a-childcare-centre-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">How to start a centre<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cost-to-furnish-a-childcare-classroom-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Classroom furniture cost<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-furniture-checklist-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Furniture checklist<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Room layout<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-fit-out-cost-sydney\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Sydney fit-out cost<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/ccs-approved-childcare-service-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">CCS approved service<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-table-chair-height-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Table &#038; chair height<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <strong>Storage &#038; cubbies<\/strong> (this guide)\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-startup-cost-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Startup cost Hub<\/a>\n    \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-furniture-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;text-decoration:none;\">Furniture Australia<\/a>\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin:24px 0;padding:22px 24px;background:#f4f8fc;border:2px solid #123d73;border-radius:12px;\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.4px;text-transform:uppercase;color:#123d73;\">Operator page \u2014 hallway vs room, not a locker catalogue<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 12px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.65;color:#263544;\"><strong>Childcare storage Australia<\/strong> fails more often on the floor plan than on the SKU. Coat bags in the play rectangle eat <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;font-weight:700;\">3.25 m\u00b2 unencumbered indoor space<\/a>. Shared cubbies overflow at 8:30am. This page splits arrival lockers, program shelves and adult stores, then turns licensed places into a wall length.<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.65;color:#263544;\">Inch openings and section widths live on the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/standard-daycare-locker-cubby-dimensions-the-2026-buying-guide\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;\">locker and cubby dimensions guide<\/a>. Room AUD ranges sit on <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cost-to-furnish-a-childcare-classroom-australia\/\" style=\"color:#123d73;\">cost to furnish a classroom<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"ws-st\" id=\"nqf-storage-calculator\">\n  <span class=\"ws-st__label\">Purchase-order helper<\/span>\n  <h3>Childcare cubby planner (Australia)<\/h3>\n  <p>Enter the <strong>NQF room<\/strong>, licensed places and where the arrival run will sit. You get a section count, a planning wall length and whether the run is deducted from 3.25 m\u00b2.<\/p>\n  <div class=\"ws-st__grid\">\n    <label>Room age band\n      <select id=\"ws-st-room\">\n        <option value=\"toddler\" selected>Toddler \u2014 24 to 36 months<\/option>\n        <option value=\"preschool\">Preschool \u2014 36 months to preschool age<\/option>\n        <option value=\"mixed\">Mixed-age \/ whole centre cloak<\/option>\n      <\/select>\n    <\/label>\n    <label>Licensed places using this run\n      <input id=\"ws-st-places\" type=\"number\" min=\"6\" step=\"1\" value=\"20\">\n    <\/label>\n    <label>Where the arrival cubbies sit\n      <select id=\"ws-st-place\">\n        <option value=\"hall\" selected>Hallway \/ cloak \/ arrival wall<\/option>\n        <option value=\"room\">Inside the play room<\/option>\n      <\/select>\n    <\/label>\n  <\/div>\n  <button type=\"button\" id=\"ws-st-run\">Plan the cubby run<\/button>\n  <div class=\"ws-st__out\" id=\"ws-st-out\" hidden><\/div>\n  <p class=\"ws-st__cta\"><a class=\"ws-popup-2919\" href=\"#elementor-action:action=popup:open&#038;settings=eyJpZCI6IjI5MTkiLCJ0b2dnbGUiOmZhbHNlfQ==\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:12px 22px;background:#123d73;color:#fff;border-radius:999px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px;\">Send wall length and licensed places<\/a><\/p>\n<\/section>\n<style>\n.ws-st { margin:28px 0 36px; padding:26px 26px 22px; background:#f4f8fc; border:1px solid #d5e0ea; border-radius:16px; }\n.ws-st__label { display:inline-block; margin-bottom:10px; padding:5px 12px; border-radius:999px; background:#123d73; color:#fff; font-size:12px; font-weight:700; letter-spacing:.4px; text-transform:uppercase; }\n.ws-st h3 { margin:8px 0 10px; font-size:24px; color:#123d73; }\n.ws-st p { margin:0 0 16px; color:#263544; line-height:1.65; }\n.ws-st__grid { display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(3,1fr); gap:12px; margin:0 0 16px; }\n.ws-st label { display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:6px; font-size:13px; font-weight:700; color:#123d73; }\n.ws-st select, .ws-st input { padding:10px 12px; border:1px solid #c5d4e0; border-radius:10px; font-size:15px; font-weight:500; color:#263544; background:#fff; }\n.ws-st button { padding:12px 18px; border:0; border-radius:999px; background:#123d73; color:#fff; font-weight:700; cursor:pointer; }\n.ws-st__out { margin:18px 0 8px; padding:16px 18px; background:#fff; border-radius:12px; border:1px solid #d8e3ec; }\n.ws-st__out.is-open { display:block; }\n.ws-st__out p { margin:0 0 8px; }\n.ws-st__out p:last-child { margin:0; }\n.ws-st__cta { margin:16px 0 0 !important; }\n@media (max-width:767px) { .ws-st__grid { grid-template-columns:1fr; } }\n<\/style>\n<script>\n(function(){\n  var run=document.getElementById('ws-st-run');\n  if(!run) return;\n  function plan(n){\n    if(n<=10) return {cfg:'2 \u00d7 5-section coat lockers', wall:'about 3.0 m', note:'Two short banks are easier to site than one long run on a broken wall.'};\n    if(n<=15) return {cfg:'3 \u00d7 5-section, or one 15\u201316 section cloak run', wall:'about 4.5 m', note:'Keep a 1.2 m aisle in front. Do not pinch the fire path.'};\n    if(n<=20) return {cfg:'4 \u00d7 5-section coat lockers', wall:'about 6.0 m', note:'Split across two walls if the corridor is L-shaped.'};\n    if(n<=24) return {cfg:'4 \u00d7 6-section, or a custom cloak run', wall:'about 7.2 m', note:'Custom width is cheaper than leaving the last four children sharing.'};\n    var banks=Math.ceil(n\/5);\n    return {cfg:banks+' \u00d7 5-section banks (or a custom run)', wall:'about '+(banks*1.5).toFixed(1)+' m', note:'Over 24 places, draw the wall first. Do not guess a catalogue photo.'};\n  }\n  run.addEventListener('click', function(){\n    var n=Math.max(6, parseInt(document.getElementById('ws-st-places').value,10)||20);\n    var room=document.getElementById('ws-st-room').value;\n    var loc=document.getElementById('ws-st-place').value;\n    var hook=room==='toddler'?'900\u20131000 mm':'1050\u20131200 mm';\n    if(room==='mixed') hook='900\u20131000 mm on the toddler bay; 1050\u20131200 mm on the preschool bay \u2014 do not average';\n    var p=plan(n);\n    var space=loc==='hall'\n      ? 'Arrival lockers in a hallway or cloak are outside the play rectangle, so they do not eat classroom 3.25 m\u00b2. They still need their own clear aisle (plan 1.2 m).'\n      : 'This run sits inside the play room, so treat it as <strong>permanently set aside for storage<\/strong> under Regulation 107. It is deducted from unencumbered indoor space. Do not count the locker footprint as play floor.';\n    var out=document.getElementById('ws-st-out');\n    out.hidden=false;\n    out.className='ws-st__out is-open';\n    out.innerHTML='<p><strong>Sections to order:<\/strong> '+n+' (one per licensed place using this run)<\/p>'\n      +'<p><strong>Typical configuration:<\/strong> '+p.cfg+'<br><strong>Planning wall length:<\/strong> '+p.wall+' (including small gaps between banks)<\/p>'\n      +'<p><strong>Hook height to write on the PO:<\/strong> '+hook+'<\/p>'\n      +'<p>'+space+'<\/p>'\n      +'<p>'+p.note+' Open program shelves stay in the room and are a different line on the PO.<\/p>';\n  });\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-acecqa-actually-requires-and-what-it-does-not\">What ACECQA Actually Requires (and What It Does Not)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acecqa.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">ACECQA<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acecqa.gov.au\/nqf\/national-law-regulations\/national-regulations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">National Regulations<\/a> set space, supervision and a physical environment that works. They do <strong>not<\/strong> write \u201cpreschool lockers must be 1200 mm.\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acecqa.gov.au\/quality-area-3-physical-environment-3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Quality Area 3<\/a> asks whether furniture is fit for purpose, sufficient, and well maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/classic.austlii.edu.au\/au\/legis\/nsw\/consol_reg\/eacsnr475\/s107.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reg 107<\/a> \u2014 at least 3.25 m\u00b2 unencumbered indoor space per child. Passageways, hygiene rooms, nappy-change, kitchen (unless it is a children\u2019s program kitchen), staff rooms and <strong>any area permanently set aside for storage<\/strong> are out.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/earlychildhood.qld.gov.au\/ececRegulation\/Documents\/unencumbered-indoor-outdoor-space-guidance.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Queensland\u2019s unencumbered-space guidance<\/a> (used nationally as a reading of the same regulation) treats lockers, fixed or movable cupboards and walk-in stores as storage. High shelves that children cannot use and that do not eat play floor may not need a deduction.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>The same guidance says children\u2019s <strong>moveable<\/strong> tables, chairs and small bookshelves used as part of the program are <strong>not<\/strong> storage. That is your open-shelf line, not your coat-locker line.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>ACECQA\u2019s QA3 notes make the same split: home-corner furniture and mobile open shelving that offer toys directly to children usually stay inside unencumbered play space because they are part of play.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Do not invent an Australian Standard number for cubby openings. Spec commercial millimetres, one section per place, and a fit test.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\">room layout guide<\/a> is how you keep 3.25 m\u00b2 after furniture is drawn. This page is which storage goes on that drawing, and which storage is not allowed to sit on it. Sleep furniture is a different deducted area under Reg 107. This article does not specify cots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"three-storage-jobs-do-not-mix-them-on-one-po\">Three Storage Jobs \u2014 Do Not Mix Them on One PO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Centres that fail storage usually ordered one \u201ccubby unit\u201d and expected it to do arrival, program and staff stores. Those are three lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Job<\/th><th>Where it sits<\/th><th>What to order<\/th><th>3.25 m\u00b2 effect<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Arrival \u2014 bags, coats, spare clothes<\/td><td>Hallway, cloak or a dedicated arrival wall<\/td><td>Coat lockers or open cubby banks, <strong>one section per licensed place<\/strong><\/td><td>Outside the play rectangle if you can. Inside the room it is deducted storage.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Program \u2014 trays, books, loose parts<\/td><td>Inside the classroom, on the child\u2019s side of the sightline<\/td><td>Low open shelves, movable, two or three bays per zone<\/td><td>Usually furniture, not storage \u2014 if it stays low, movable and part of play.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Adult \u2014 chemicals, records, bulk extras<\/td><td>Staff room, laundry, lockable cupboard, not on top of cubbies<\/td><td>One lockable unit per room or a shared store<\/td><td>Always deducted. Never in the play floor, never on top of a locker bank.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Factory arrival units are on <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cubbies-and-lockers\/\">cubbies and lockers<\/a>. Program shelves sit with the rest of the room on <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/preschool-classroom-furniture\/\">preschool classroom furniture<\/a>. Write both on the furniture schedule so the builder does not absorb the cloak as joinery you still have to buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-Section-Locker-Cubby.webp\" alt=\"5-section timber coat locker and cubby run for an Australian childcare arrival wall\" class=\"wp-image-22389\" style=\"width:620px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-Section-Locker-Cubby.webp 500w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-Section-Locker-Cubby-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-Section-Locker-Cubby-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5-Section-Locker-Cubby-12x12.webp 12w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"ws-context-cta\" style=\"margin:28px 0;padding:22px 24px;background:#f4f8fc;border-left:4px solid #123d73;border-radius:8px;\">\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-size:17px;font-weight:700;color:#123d73;\">Need the cloak marked on the plan?<\/p>\n  <p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;font-size:15px;line-height:1.65;color:#263544;\">Send the floor plan, licensed places by room and opening date. West Shore returns a 2D\/3D layout with cubby counts, hook heights and a 1.2 m aisle.<\/p>\n  <a class=\"ws-popup-2919\" href=\"#elementor-action:action=popup:open&#038;settings=eyJpZCI6IjI5MTkiLCJ0b2dnbGUiOmZhbHNlfQ==\" style=\"display:inline-block;padding:12px 22px;background:#123d73;color:#fff;border-radius:999px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;font-size:15px;\">Get the cubby run on the drawing<\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"hallway-vs-classroom-the-3-25-m-test\">Hallway vs Classroom: The 3.25 m\u00b2 Test<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pickup is a corridor problem. Twenty backpacks in a 15-place preschool room is how the unencumbered calculation dies. Put the arrival run where bags already land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Best:<\/strong> a cloak or hallway wall, one section per child, 1.2 m clear in front, door swings already excluded from indoor space.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Acceptable:<\/strong> a shallow arrival strip just inside the classroom door, drawn as deducted storage, not counted as play floor.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Fail:<\/strong> a 16-section locker in the middle of the activity carpet, or bags on hooks behind the home corner where educators cannot see.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Keep educator sightlines. A tall locker bank that hides the nappy-change door or the outdoor exit is a supervision problem before it is a storage problem.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Walkways of 900\u20131200 mm are the same discipline as the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\">layout spoke<\/a>. A 350 mm-deep locker plus bags sticking out will steal that aisle.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Indoor space is calculated on the premises total, not room-by-room. That does not give you permission to choke one preschool room so another room looks generous. Assessors still walk the room the children actually use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cubby-and-locker-millimetres-australia-2026\">Cubby and Locker Millimetres (Australia, 2026)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are <strong>commercial planning bands<\/strong> used on Australian LDC purchase orders, not a law. Convert the inch chart on the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/standard-daycare-locker-cubby-dimensions-the-2026-buying-guide\/\">dimensions guide<\/a> only as a check, then write millimetres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>NQF room<\/th><th>Arrival unit<\/th><th>Hook height to spec<\/th><th>Overall height (planning)<\/th><th>Depth to leave the aisle<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Toddler 24\u201336 months<\/td><td>Open cubbies or a low coat locker<\/td><td>900\u20131000 mm<\/td><td>800\u20131100 mm; two rows, not three<\/td><td>350\u2013400 mm plus bags; keep 1.2 m clear<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Preschool 3\u20135 years<\/td><td>5- or 6-section coat locker with top cubby<\/td><td>1050\u20131200 mm<\/td><td>1200\u20131300 mm<\/td><td>400\u2013450 mm; winter coats need the extra 50 mm<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Whole-centre cloak<\/td><td>Custom run, split by age bay<\/td><td>Do not average. Two hook heights on one wall.<\/td><td>Match the shortest bay so toddlers are not climbing<\/td><td>Same 1.2 m aisle the full length of the run<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>One section per licensed place. Sharing cubbies is how lice, spare clothes and 8:30am arguments start.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Section width about 230\u2013300 mm (the 9\u201312 inch band). Narrower than 230 mm and a winter bag will not sit; wider than 300 mm and the wall dies.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Open cubby openings for program trays: about 200\u2013300 mm wide and 300\u2013380 mm deep. Toddlers need to see the tray, not climb a third row.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Some state facilities briefs (for example South Australian school-based early childhood notes) talk about 300 \u00d7 300 mm pigeon-holes and keeping bag units at or under 1000 mm. That is a briefing number, not National Law. Fit-test the children in the room.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies.webp\" alt=\"Coat lockers with top cubbies for preschool bags and spare clothes\" class=\"wp-image-12925\" style=\"width:620px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies.webp 800w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies-300x300.webp 300w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies-150x150.webp 150w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies-768x768.webp 768w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Coat-Lockers-with-Cubbies-12x12.webp 12w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"wall-length-by-licensed-places\">Wall Length by Licensed Places<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use this as a first mark-up, then measure the actual wall. Gaps between banks and corner returns add length. The factory table on <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cubbies-and-lockers\/\">cubbies and lockers<\/a> is the same planning set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Licensed places on this run<\/th><th>Typical configuration<\/th><th>Planning wall length<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>10<\/td><td>2 \u00d7 5-section coat lockers<\/td><td>about 3.0 m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>15<\/td><td>3 \u00d7 5-section, or one 15\u201316 section cloak<\/td><td>about 4.5 m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>20<\/td><td>4 \u00d7 5-section<\/td><td>about 6.0 m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>24<\/td><td>4 \u00d7 6-section, or a custom run<\/td><td>about 7.2 m<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30+<\/td><td>Custom cloak along the wall<\/td><td>sized to the wall, not a catalogue photo<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the wall is shorter than the table, do not shrink section width below 230 mm. Split the run, use a return wall, or drop to open cubbies for the overflow group. A custom millimetre is cheaper than a jammed corridor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"open-shelves-that-can-stay-in-the-3-25-m\">Open Shelves That Can Stay in the 3.25 m\u00b2<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Program storage is how children take a tray and put it back. It should look like furniture, not a stockroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li>Keep open shelves low enough that an educator can see over them. That is the same sightline rule as the layout spoke.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Prefer movable bays. Frozen 1800 mm library stacks against every wall start to look like permanent storage to an authorised officer.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>One or two bays per learning zone (blocks, books, art, home corner). A fourth bay of \u201cextras\u201d belongs in the adult store.<\/li>\n\n\n<li>Do not store spare chairs, bulk paper or lost-property on top of the cubbies. That is a fall and a climb.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Open-Shelf-Flow.webp\" alt=\"Low open shelves in an Australian classroom that stay part of play, not deducted storage\" class=\"wp-image-8986\" style=\"width:620px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Open-Shelf-Flow.webp 800w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Open-Shelf-Flow-300x188.webp 300w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Open-Shelf-Flow-768x480.webp 768w, https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Open-Shelf-Flow-18x12.webp 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Queensland and Sydney rooms that already run this split are on the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/everwood-early-education-in-australia\/\">Everwood<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/reggio-kindergarten-in-sydney\/\">Sydney Reggio<\/a> project pages. They show a furnished room, not a shopping cart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-storage-hits-3-25-m-the-budget-and-the-import-clock\">How Storage Hits 3.25 m\u00b2, the Budget and the Import Clock<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Space.<\/strong> Draw the locker footprint on the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\">layout<\/a> before you add a sixteenth section. If it is in the room, it is deducted.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Money.<\/strong> Arrival lockers are a cheap line compared with sleep furniture, and an expensive line to get wrong. AUD room ranges stay on <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cost-to-furnish-a-childcare-classroom-australia\/\">cost to furnish<\/a>. Tick the item on the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-furniture-checklist-australia\/\">furniture checklist<\/a> so it does not vanish into the builder\u2019s joinery package \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-fit-out-cost-sydney\/\">Sydney fit-out<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Clock.<\/strong> Freeze wall length and millimetres when the layout freezes. Imported classroom packages need about 10\u201314 weeks (production, ocean transit, a licensed customs broker, GST, inland delivery). Opening in under 10\u201312 weeks is a local buy, not a factory cloak run.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On a full classroom or multi-room program, operators commonly land <strong>30\u201350% under comparable local retail<\/strong> once freight, GST\/duties and delivery are in the comparison. Use the <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/import-daycare-furniture-landed-cost\/\">landed-cost guide<\/a> and a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.abf.gov.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">licensed customs broker<\/a>\u2014do not self-clear a container of lockers. Two extra cubby units let freight dominate; that is when you should not import.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CCS does not buy cubbies. Family fee subsidy is a different path \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/ccs-approved-childcare-service-australia\/\">CCS approved childcare service Australia<\/a>. Keep storage on the capital furniture schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mistakes-that-show-up-on-assessment-day\">Mistakes That Show Up on Assessment Day<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n<li><strong>Bags in the play rectangle.<\/strong> The 3.25 m\u00b2 was calculated on an empty CAD. The authorised officer walks a room full of backpacks.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Shared cubbies as the default.<\/strong> Two children per hole looks efficient on a quote and fails at drop-off.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>One hook height for 0\u20135.<\/strong> Toddlers climb; preschoolers drag coats on the floor.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Copying the U.S. inch chart onto the Australian PO.<\/strong> Write millimetres. Use the dimensions guide only as a check.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Unanchored tall banks.<\/strong> Children climb. Fix them.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Adult bulk on top of cubbies.<\/strong> Fall hazard, climb hazard, and it reads as storage eating play space.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Ordering after the layout is frozen with 8 weeks to opening.<\/strong> Factory programs need about 10\u201314 weeks. That is a local buy or a phased cloak.<\/li>\n\n\n<li><strong>Letting the builder \u201cinclude lockers\u201d as joinery.<\/strong> You still need child-height millimetres, one section per place, and a product you can replace in year three.<\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"ws-playground-cta\">\n  <div class=\"ws-cta-inner\">\n    <div class=\"ws-cta-content\">\n      <span class=\"ws-cta-label\">Plan Smarter<\/span>\n      <div class=\"ws-cta-title\">Get cubbies on the furniture schedule<\/div>\n      <p>Send the floor plan, NQF room ages, licensed places and opening date. West Shore returns a 2D\/3D concept with cubby counts, hook heights and a hallway versus room split that respects 3.25 m\u00b2.<\/p>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"cta-actions\">\n      <a class=\"popup-btn ws-popup-2919\" href=\"#elementor-action:action=popup:open&#038;settings=eyJpZCI6IjI5MTkiLCJ0b2dnbGUiOmZhbHNlfQ==\">Get Free Daycare Design<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n<style>\n  .ws-playground-cta { width: 100% !important; margin: 40px 0 !important; padding: 0 16px !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-inner { max-width: 1080px !important; margin: 0 auto !important; padding: 34px 38px !important; border-radius: 22px !important; background: linear-gradient(135deg, #123D73 0%, #1E5A96 100%) !important; color: #ffffff !important; display: flex !important; align-items: center !important; justify-content: space-between !important; gap: 28px !important; box-shadow: 0 14px 35px rgba(18, 61, 115, 0.22) !important; box-sizing: border-box !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-content { flex: 1 !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-label { display: inline-block !important; margin-bottom: 10px !important; padding: 6px 12px !important; border-radius: 999px !important; background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.16) !important; color: #ffffff !important; font-size: 13px !important; font-weight: 600 !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-title { margin: 0 0 12px !important; color: #ffffff !important; font-size: 30px !important; line-height: 1.25 !important; font-weight: 700 !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-content p { margin: 0 !important; max-width: 720px !important; color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.88) !important; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: 1.65 !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .cta-actions { flex-shrink: 0 !important; }\n  .ws-playground-cta .popup-btn { display: inline-block !important; padding: 15px 28px !important; border-radius: 999px !important; background: #ffffff !important; color: #123D73 !important; font-size: 16px !important; font-weight: 700 !important; text-decoration: none !important; }\n  @media (max-width: 768px) { .ws-playground-cta .ws-cta-inner { padding: 28px 22px !important; flex-direction: column !important; align-items: flex-start !important; } .ws-playground-cta .popup-btn { width: 100% !important; text-align: center !important; } }\n<\/style>\n\n<script>\n(function(){\n  function openWsPopup(e){\n    if (typeof elementorProFrontend !== 'undefined' && elementorProFrontend.modules && elementorProFrontend.modules.popup) {\n      if (e) e.preventDefault();\n      elementorProFrontend.modules.popup.showPopup({ id: 2919 });\n    }\n  }\n  document.querySelectorAll('.ws-popup-2919, .popup-btn').forEach(function(el){\n    el.addEventListener('click', openWsPopup);\n  });\n})();\n<\/script>\n\n\n\n\n<div style=\"margin:24px 0;padding:18px 22px;background:#f4f8fc;border-radius:8px;border:1px solid #d8e3ec;\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;color:#123d73;\">Related Australia guides<\/p><ul style=\"margin:0;padding-left:20px;line-height:1.8;\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-startup-cost-australia\/\">Childcare startup cost Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/how-to-start-a-childcare-centre-australia\/\">How to start a childcare centre in Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/cost-to-furnish-a-childcare-classroom-australia\/\">Cost to furnish a childcare classroom in Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-furniture-checklist-australia\/\">Childcare furniture checklist Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-room-layout-australia\/\">Childcare centre room layout Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-centre-fit-out-cost-sydney\/\">Childcare centre fit-out cost Sydney<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/ccs-approved-childcare-service-australia\/\">CCS approved childcare service Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-table-chair-height-australia\/\">Childcare table and chair height Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-storage-cubby-australia\/\">Childcare storage and cubby planning Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/childcare-furniture-australia\/\">Childcare furniture Australia<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/how-much-does-a-preschool-playground-cost\/\">Preschool playground costs<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/h2>\n\n\n<!-- wp:rank-math\/faq-block [{\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774438\", \"title\": \"How much childcare storage does an Australian centre need?\", \"content\": \"Plan one arrival cubby or coat-locker section per licensed place, plus open program shelves inside the room and one lockable adult cupboard that is not in the play rectangle. Do not share cubbies between two children as the default. Confirm the coat run still leaves a 1.2 m pickup aisle.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774439\", \"title\": \"Do cubbies count in the 3.25 m\u00b2 unencumbered indoor space?\", \"content\": \"Permanent storage does not. Regulation 107 excludes any area permanently set aside for storage. Coat lockers, fixed cupboards and walk-in stores sit in that bucket. Low, movable open shelves that children use as part of the program are usually treated as furniture, not storage\u2014but a wall of deep lockers inside the play room is still deducted. Draw it on the layout before you order.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774440\", \"title\": \"Should cubbies go in the hallway or in the classroom?\", \"content\": \"Put arrival bags and coats in a hallway, cloak or dedicated arrival wall so the play floor keeps 3.25 m\u00b2. Put only program shelves in the room. If the building has no cloak, the in-room locker run is a deducted storage strip\u2014do not pretend it is unencumbered play space.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774441\", \"title\": \"What cubby and locker height should Australian LDC order?\", \"content\": \"There is no ACECQA millimetre for cubbies. Commercial planning: hooks at 900\u20131000 mm for 2\u20133 year olds and 1050\u20131200 mm for 4\u20135 year olds; coat-locker overall height about 1060\u20131300 mm; open cubby banks for toddlers stay in two rows, not three. Fit-test the shortest children on the sample unit.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774442\", \"title\": \"How is this different from the locker dimensions buying guide?\", \"content\": \"The 2026 locker and cubby dimensions guide is the inch chart for openings, section widths and unit sizes. This page is the Australian planning layer: NQF space, hallway versus room, licensed-place quantities and millimetres on the purchase order.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774443\", \"title\": \"Do I need to wall-anchor cubbies and lockers?\", \"content\": \"Yes for taller freestanding banks. Children climb. Follow the manufacturer fixing and your WHS procedure. Anti-tip is not a substitute for putting the run on a wall that still leaves the aisle.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774444\", \"title\": \"When should I import cubbies instead of buying locally?\", \"content\": \"After the layout is frozen and 10\u201314 weeks still fits opening. Production, ocean transit, a licensed customs broker, GST and inland delivery all sit in that window. On a full classroom or cloakroom program, operators commonly land 30\u201350% under comparable local retail once freight and tax are in the comparison\u2014not on a two-unit top-up.\", \"visible\": true}, {\"id\": \"faq-question-1789989774445\", \"title\": \"Does CCS pay for cubbies and classroom storage?\", \"content\": \"No. CCS is a family fee subsidy. Furniture is a capital or operator line. Keep storage on the furniture schedule, not on a CCS worksheet. See the CCS approved service guide for the operator path.\", \"visible\": true}] -->\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-faq-block\"><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How much childcare storage does an Australian centre need?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Plan one arrival cubby or coat-locker section per licensed place, plus open program shelves inside the room and one lockable adult cupboard that is not in the play rectangle. Do not share cubbies between two children as the default. Confirm the coat run still leaves a 1.2 m pickup aisle.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do cubbies count in the 3.25 m\u00b2 unencumbered indoor space?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Permanent storage does not. Regulation 107 excludes any area permanently set aside for storage. Coat lockers, fixed cupboards and walk-in stores sit in that bucket. Low, movable open shelves that children use as part of the program are usually treated as furniture, not storage\u2014but a wall of deep lockers inside the play room is still deducted. Draw it on the layout before you order.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Should cubbies go in the hallway or in the classroom?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Put arrival bags and coats in a hallway, cloak or dedicated arrival wall so the play floor keeps 3.25 m\u00b2. Put only program shelves in the room. If the building has no cloak, the in-room locker run is a deducted storage strip\u2014do not pretend it is unencumbered play space.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What cubby and locker height should Australian LDC order?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">There is no ACECQA millimetre for cubbies. Commercial planning: hooks at 900\u20131000 mm for 2\u20133 year olds and 1050\u20131200 mm for 4\u20135 year olds; coat-locker overall height about 1060\u20131300 mm; open cubby banks for toddlers stay in two rows, not three. Fit-test the shortest children on the sample unit.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">How is this different from the locker dimensions buying guide?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">The 2026 locker and cubby dimensions guide is the inch chart for openings, section widths and unit sizes. This page is the Australian planning layer: NQF space, hallway versus room, licensed-place quantities and millimetres on the purchase order.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Do I need to wall-anchor cubbies and lockers?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">Yes for taller freestanding banks. Children climb. Follow the manufacturer fixing and your WHS procedure. Anti-tip is not a substitute for putting the run on a wall that still leaves the aisle.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">When should I import cubbies instead of buying locally?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">After the layout is frozen and 10\u201314 weeks still fits opening. Production, ocean transit, a licensed customs broker, GST and inland delivery all sit in that window. On a full classroom or cloakroom program, operators commonly land 30\u201350% under comparable local retail once freight and tax are in the comparison\u2014not on a two-unit top-up.<\/div><\/div><div class=\"rank-math-faq-item\"><h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Does CCS pay for cubbies and classroom storage?<\/h3><div class=\"rank-math-answer\">No. CCS is a family fee subsidy. Furniture is a capital or operator line. Keep storage on the furniture schedule, not on a CCS worksheet. See the CCS approved service guide for the operator path.<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><em>Planning guidance for operators and procurement teams. Confirm current National Regulations, your jurisdiction\u2019s space assessment practice, and the children who will actually use the room. This page is not legal, building, or WHS advice. Outdoor shade and play structures stay on a separate line \u2014 see <a href=\"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/how-much-does-a-preschool-playground-cost\/\">preschool playground costs<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Operator guide to childcare storage and cubbies in Australia: coat lockers in the hallway, open program shelves in the room, and quantities that do not eat 3.25 m\u00b2.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23441,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_angie_page":false,"page_builder":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-classroom-environment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23442"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23442\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23441"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/westshorefurniture.com\/th\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}