Yes, there are several options for financial assistance to help pay for child care in Australia.
One option is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), which is a government-funded financial assistance program for families with children aged 0-12 years. The CCS is based on a percentage of the family’s income and the number of hours of child care used each week. The amount of subsidy a family is entitled to receive depends on their individual circumstances, including the type of child care used, the family’s combined income, the number of children in care, and the number of hours of care used each week.
Another option is the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS), which is a government-funded financial assistance program for families experiencing temporary financial hardship or other challenging circumstances. The ACCS is available to families who are eligible for the CCS and provides additional financial assistance for families experiencing circumstances such as unemployment, domestic violence, or caring for a child with a disability.
There are also several other financial assistance options available for families in specific circumstances, such as the Inclusion Support Subsidy for families caring for children with a disability or the Outside School Hours Care Subsidy for families who need before and after school care.
It is important to note that families must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply for these financial assistance programs through the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. It is also worth noting that the CCS and ACCS are only available for approved child care services, such as long day care, family day care, in-home care, outside school hours care, and vacation care.
In summary, there are several options for financial assistance to help pay for child care in Australia, including the Child Care Subsidy and the Additional Child Care Subsidy. Families must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply through the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. These financial assistance programs are only available for approved child care services.