If your family is feeling the pressure of rising childcare costs, you’re not alone.
The good news is that government rebates and targeted support mean childcare is more affordable than it ever has been before. This article will help you understand what you’re paying for and what government rebates could benefit your family with cheaper child care.
Read on to discover how to take control of your family’s cost of living and reduce your childcare centre fee, while ensuring your child receives high-quality early childhood education, welfare and care.
Understanding Childcare Centre Fees
When they understand the makeup of childcare centre fees, families are better prepared to make decisions regarding the cost of living and top-quality care for their child.
What Are Childcare Centre Fees?
The daily or weekly charges payable for early childhood education and care services in Cairns and across Queensland vary depending on a number of factors.
Typical Fee Structures in Cairns and Queensland
- Fees are normally set as a daily rate, but some centres may have part-time options or special session prices.
- There are a variety of rates depending on the type of childcare service.
- The government’s Minister for Education, Jason Clare, is aiming to make early care and childhood education affordable. He hopes to cover up to 90% of fees through the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
The effectiveness of government rebates aiming to make childcare affordable for all is regularly reviewed by The Productivity Commission.
Location and Service Type: The Impact on Childcare Subsidy and Fees
- Regional vs Urban centres
- Childcare centres in metropolitan areas have increased costs, such as wages and property prices, so typically their charges are higher than centres located in regional and rural areas.
- Research conducted by The Productivity Commission revealed that areas with more providers don’t always offer lower fees because parents often make quality and location a priority over pricing.
- Childcare centres in metropolitan areas have increased costs, such as wages and property prices, so typically their charges are higher than centres located in regional and rural areas.
- Types of Service
- Long Day Care: Offering longer opening hours and services such as meals and educational programs. These centres are popular with working families, but fees are often higher.
- Sessional Kindergarten: Also known as ‘preschool’, kindergarten usually operates during school hours and school terms and is a more cost-effective option for families who don’t need full daycare.
- Family Day Care: This service is delivered from the carer’s home, and it can often be more flexible and less expensive.
- Long Day Care: Offering longer opening hours and services such as meals and educational programs. These centres are popular with working families, but fees are often higher.
- In-Home Care:
- This can be the most expensive option and is often used in remote areas or for children with special needs.
Age of the Child: Why Fees Vary for Babies, Toddlers, and Kindergarten-Aged Children
- Infants (0–2 years)
- Infant care is regulated by The National Quality Framework, requiring higher staff-to-child ratios. This increases the costs of staffing, which is reflected in childcare fees.
- Infant care is regulated by The National Quality Framework, requiring higher staff-to-child ratios. This increases the costs of staffing, which is reflected in childcare fees.
- Toddlers (2–3 years)
- Fees are still fairly high since toddlers also need close supervision and personal, or tailored, educational activities.
- Fees are still fairly high since toddlers also need close supervision and personal, or tailored, educational activities.
- Kindergarten-Aged Children (3–5 years)
- Fees for kindergarten are often lower reflecting the reduced requirements for staffing and the availability of rebates from the government.
- Fees for kindergarten are often lower reflecting the reduced requirements for staffing and the availability of rebates from the government.
- Multiple Children in Care
- Parents with more than one child may be able to claim a higher child care subsidy (ccs) rate for second and subsequent children.
Government Support: Childcare Subsidy and Government Rebates Explained
In this section, we examine the child care subsidy (CCS), showing how your children could benefit from high-quality learning experiences with reduced costs.
Understanding the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The Australian Government’s main initiative to ensure all children have affordable access to early education and care. The CCS aims to support families with the cost of living. The subsidy is paid directly to approved childcare service providers, reducing the fees that families need to pay.
How Much Can Families Save?
The value of the subsidy received is calculated based on family income and the number of children in care. Here is an overview of the subsidy calculator:
| Family Income | Subsidy Rate (Standard) | Subsidy Rate (Second/Younger Child) |
| $0 to $83,280 | 90 per cent | Up to 95 per cent |
| $83,281 to $533,280 | Decreases by 1% for every $5,000 of income | Decreases by 1% for every $3,000 of income (for second/younger children) |
| Over $533,280 | 0 per cent | 0 per cent |
- If a family has more than one child aged five or under, they may get a higher subsidy for the care of their second and subsequent children.
- The CCS is paid directly to the provider with families paying the gap between the subsidy and the actual fees.
Free Kindy and Additional Government Rebates: Making Childcare Centre Fees More Affordable
Combining the Child Care Subsidy with other government rebates can enable families in Queensland to access affordable, high-quality childcare and early childhood education to help ensure each child has the best possible start in life.
What is “Free Kindy”?
An initiative by the Queensland Government, Free Kindy provides 15 hours each week of kindergarten at no cost to families for 40 weeks each year.
The programme is available for use for Long Day Care and Sessional Kindergarten services.
- The child must attend a government-approved kindergarten, and the subsidy is only available for one service per child.
- The program is available to all Queensland families.
- It is delivered by qualified childhood teachers for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year.
How Does Free Kindy Work with the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
Families in Queensland can benefit from both the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and Free Kindy at the same time.
- Free Kindy can cover the cost of kindergarten up to 15 hours per week.
- The CCs can be used to cover any additional hours of care needed outside the Free Kindy allocation.
- Childcare centre directors and staff can help you understand how Free Kindy and CCS work together.
Other Government Rebates and Targeted Support
As well as the CCS and Free Kindy, there are a number of support programmes and government rebate options available to help with childcare costs for all families.
- Inclusion Subsidies:
- Aimed at providing inclusive environments for children with special or additional needs to ensure every child in care can participate fully.
- Aimed at providing inclusive environments for children with special or additional needs to ensure every child in care can participate fully.
- Targeted Subsidies:
- There is additional funding available for services that are working to improve quality standards and for families in need in regional remote or disadvantaged areas.
- There is additional funding available for services that are working to improve quality standards and for families in need in regional remote or disadvantaged areas.
- Educational Need Grants:
- These Grants are aimed at communities with higher needs and help childcare services enhance their educational outcomes.
Your Childcare Centre directors or staff will be able to help you understand the subsidies and rebates you may be eligible for.
Why Choose Mount Peter Early Learning for Your Child’s Care?
At Mount Peter Early Learning, our commitment to quality and safety, plus transparency in childcare fees, means you can trust us to provide a nurturing, secure environment for your child.
We will help you navigate the Child Care Subsidy, government rebates, including Free Kindy, and all aspects of affordable childcare. We are always happy to help you find the best solution for your family.
Contact us today to arrange a visit or speak with one of our centre directors. Let’s work together to give your child the best possible start.