Family Day Care or Home Based Care FAQs

What is Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an assistance from the Federal Government to help families using approved child care, with the cost of their child care fees.

How do I apply for CCS?

You will need to register and complete a Child Care Subsidy assessment using your Centrelink online account through myGov, or you may not receive any child care fee assistance.

Once assessed, you will receive a notice from the Department of Human Services to confirm your eligibility.

What are advance fees and do I have to pay it?

Advance fees are charges at the full fee rate and reflect your child's current attendance. Advance fees are fully refundable, provided your account is up to date and you have given two weeks written notice to cease care and your child attends their last booked day of care.

One week of full fees will be payable to your educator when your child commences care.

Advance fees are charged at full fees in case there are any problems with receiving your Child Care Subsidy (due to absences or cancellation of CCS eligibility etc).

How do I pay my child care fees?

Child Care fee payments are to be made directly to your Family Day Care Educator on the first day of care, each week or by an individual agreement that can be pre-arranged with your educator.

What are absences and how many am I allowed?

Child Care Subsidy is paid for a child's absences from care for up to 42 days, per financial year. Once your child has reached 42 days of allowable absences, Child Care Subsidy will not be paid for any further absences.

This means that if your child is absent again because they are sick, or on holidays, you will be required to pay full fees for the day/s they are absent.

How much notice do I need to cease care?

If you wish to cease care from your Family Day Care service, you are required to provide your Educator with two weeks written notice.

How will I receive information from Family Day Care?

You can help us save the environment.

You will be asked to provide an email address when you enrol in our services.

Parents will receive various forms of communication from the Family Day Care Coordination Team, including parent newsletters, courtesy phone calls, Education Support Officer visit slips, etc.

Parents should feel free to contact the Administration Team at any time should they have any enquiries or concerns.

  • Call our team on 02 4645 4443
  • Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm.