Cost
How the Fee System WorksChild Care Benefit
Salary Packaging of Child Care Fees
Cost of child care to health staff depends upon the type, size, location and operational issues affecting each service.
Fee structure is also dependent upon local service issues, such as numbers of staff, hours of operation, site and licensing considerations and management decisions at Hospital level.
How the Fee System Works
Fees are paid in a number of different ways and each service's web site will tell you about their fee payment methods.
Fees you Pay
The cost of child care is always a mitigating factor, particularly where there is more than one child or the parent works rotational or casual shifts.
The cost of care is reduced for all families to a limited level through the Commonwealth Child Care Benefit (CCB) system. There are to types of fee relief systems.
Approved Care: This payment can be paid directly to child care services to reduce the fees charged or as a lump sum to parents after the end of the financial year. You are limited to 20 hours care per child per week unless the work test is met. If the work test is met, you can get up to 50 hours care per child per week. This payment is subject to an income test. This payment is not subject to an assets test. Approved care places are available at child care centres, most family day care schemes, some vacation care schemes and in-home care schemes.
Registered Care: This payment is paid by direct credit when you show the Family Assistance Office your receipts. This payment is not subject to an income test. This payment is not subject to an assets test. Registered Care allowance is currently available at those vacation care schemes that have not yet been approved for CCB Approved Care places.