Photo credit: Jerome Hawkins

Child care is often the only way for parents to work, keep up with everyday tasks and find some down time.

Child care also helps kids to develop social skills in a supervised environment.

Below are some financial and personal considerations that you will need to take into account when you decide it is time for your child to begin child care.

Child Care

The Australian Government offers three types of financial assistance to subsidise the cost of child care.

The Child Care Benefit

The Child Care Benefit is available to parents, foster parents, grandparents or guardians who have a child attending child care. Applicants must reach certain eligibility requirements which take into account the type of child care your child is enrolled in, your child’s immunisation history, your household income and your residency status. The benefit may be paid in increments or in a lump sum to you or your child care provider.

While payments are readjusted by the government each financial year, the current benefit falls anywhere between $32 and $195 per child per week. This amount varies depending on the number of hours a child spends at child care and whether the child care provider is classified as approved or registered care. The Australian Government offers an online estimator which approximates the amount of assistance you are eligible to receive.

For more information on the Child Care Benefit, follow this link to the Australian Government’s website.

The Child Care Rebate

The Child Care Rebate is financial assistance paid in addition to the Child Care Benefit, and covers 50% of your expenses (up to $7500 per child in the 2012-2013 financial year) annually. These expenses are defined as the total cost of child care less the amount of Child Care Benefit or other assistance you receive from the government. While there are certain eligibility requirements that must be met, you will not need to apply for the Child Care Rebate after applying for the Child Care Benefit – your eligibility for each will be automatically assessed at once.

For more information on the Child Care Rebate, follow this link to the Australian Government’s website.

Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Child Care Fee Assistance

JET fee assistance is available to those who are receiving income support from the government while looking for a job, training, studying or beginning new work. The length of time for which you can be eligible for JET fee assistance is dependent upon the type of training, study or employment activity that you are is undertaking.  Unlike the Child Care Benefit, which can be deposited into the parent’s bank account, JET fee assistance is paid directly to the child care centre.

For more information on JET, follow this link to the Australian Government’s website.

Approved vs Registered Child Care

Approved and registered child care are the two types of care covered by the Child Care Benefit. Approved child care is care that has been approved by the Australian Government and includes most long day care, family day care, in home care, occasional care, after school and vacation care services.

Registered child care refers to services provided by relatives, nannies or friends who are registered and approved by the Department of Human Services. Some occasional care, after school and vacation care providers which do not fulfil the requirements of approved care may also be considered as registered carers.  In order to become registered, a carer must fulfil certain eligibility criteria and lodge an application with the Department of Human Services.

Follow these links for more information on approved and registered child care.

Types of Child Care

Long day care

Long day care centres are generally open for at least ten hours per day on weekdays, and may also be open on weekends. Typically, these centres care for children between 6 months and 6 years old. Some centres enrol children for a certain numbers of fixed days per week, while others will be more flexible depending on the number of vacancies or the requirements of the parents. Long day care centres fulfil the eligibility requirements of the Child Care Benefit.

Family day care

Family day care schemes coordinate multiple care services which are supplied by carers in their own residences.  Carers may take care of 5 children between the ages of 0 and 6 at once, and may also provide after school or vacation care to up to 2 school aged children. Enrolment of children in family day care schemes are done through the coordinator of the scheme, who connects client with suitable carers depending on their preferences. Family day care is generally covered by the Child Care Benefit, provided the family income requirements are met.

Home-based child care

Home-based care is provided at the home of an independent carer – one who is not registered with a family day care scheme. The age of children catered for will vary carer to carer, as will hours of care, and enrolments will generally take place directly through the carer. The eligibility of home based care for the Child Care Benefit varies – it is best to ask the carer if their service is eligible.

Occasional child care

Occasional care refers to care that spans a short period of time, and is usually offered on a casual or temporary basis. Some services will take children on an hourly basis, while others will require children to be enrolled for half or full days exclusively. The age range catered to by these occasional carers varies from service to service, but generally carers will look after children from 0 to 6 years old. Occasional care services do not fall under the Child Care Benefit scheme.

Child care out of school hours

Vacation and after school care usually cater for children of school age. While many after school care services are run through schools, enrolment procedures and hours of care vary from service to service. After school care services may or may not fall under the Child Care Benefit scheme – it is best to ask the carer if their service is eligible.

Follow this link to locate a child care service in your area.

Resources

For more information, visit the Australian Government’s My Child website or freecall the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 (between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday). Each of these services offer information on types of care and will help you to locate a service that is appropriate for you.