Are you moving to Australia with your child? Do you know that finding a suitable child care facility for your little one a reason to worry about? But do not worry Chalo Australis has got everything that you need to know about child care and early learning centres and their admission process in Australia.
What Are The Options For Child Care In Australia?
As child care centres are very important for social and emotional development of kids. Many of the working parents moving to Australia with kid/s think that their decision to select the child care service is the most difficult one.
We are making this decision simple for you –
Every parent should answer these question before making a final decision about child care service:
1. Do you need a full-day child care service?
OR
Do you need an occasional child care service like for certain hours in a day or certain days in a week or only when you’ll have a work or an appointment?
2. Would you like your child cared in a home environment or in a center?
3. Are you looking for a preschool service?
Once you’ll finalise your needs; you can select a suitable option for your child from below list
1. Long Day Care
– Child care centre where professional staff will take care of babies and children up to the school-starting age when their parents are at work or have time for their other commitments
2. Family Day Care
– These are child care services which are operated by the child care professionals at their home. Parents who want their child to be in house-like settings prefer to opt for family day care centres.
3. In-Home Care
– In-Home care services are the one where a child care professional comes to the child’s home.
4. Outside School Hours Care (OSHC)
– Outside School Hours Care centres are for those children who are school aged. They will be at the centre before and after school hours. These centres are also sometimes referred to as Out-Of-School Hours(OOSH) care.
5.Occasional Care
– These centres offer professional child care service on a casual basis.
What Is The Cost Of Child Care In Australia?
Now your question would be; how much does child care cost in Australia?
The average cost of child care comes around $105 AUD per day.
The average hourly rates are $20 AUD.
These rates may vary for each city and based on what kind of service is opted.
How To Find A Child Care service?
There are online services like mychild,careforkids,goodstartwhich can be used to find suitable service in your vicinity.
Do not forget to ask these questions to the caretaking service
1. What accreditations does the center have?
2. Whats the carer to child ratio in the center?
3. What are the hours of operation?
4. Is there an extra fee for late pickup from the center?
If yes, then how much? You must ask this question because late pickup can cost you up to $20 AUD per 5 minutes.
5. Can anyone else apart from parents pick the child from the center, in case of an emergency?
6. Do they provide lunch?
7. Do the provide nappies?
Waiting List For Child Care Service
The decision of selecting a child care service is strenuous but there is something more you have to be prepared for – Waiting List.
Many times parents will face a situation like there are no vacancies at child care centre which they have selected. Hence most of the child care services where the demand is high, have a waiting list for allocating next placement.
Here are some tips to get to the top in this waiting game –
1. Start your planning early and apply at least 12 months before you need care will maximise your chances of securing a spot where you want it and when you need it.
2. Make sure that you apply at multiple child care services. Also, keep in touch with the centres to check the progress of your application on the waiting list.
3. Enrol your kids in the same service; as siblings get priority on the waiting list at many centres.
4. Even if your child gets admission to one of the services you have applied for which is not your first choice. As waiting list fee has to be paid only once; do not cancel your child’s name from the waiting list of centre of your choice.
How Can You Be Eligible For Getting Child Care Benefits?
The Australian government provides support to the families for the child care. The major support is provided in two ways. One of which is based on family income which is Child Care Benefit and other is Child Care Rebate where income is not tested.
You’ll need to apply for Centrelink account and MyGov account to get these benefits.
So regardless of being outside or inside Australia start your search for child care today. Your friendly moving guide – Chalo Australia will be happy to assist you in finding the best child care solution for your needs.
Get in touch with us today.