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child care

Choosing the right child care for you​

 

Child care in Australia:
If you are living in Australia your child care options include; community owned or private long day care centres, family day care (maximum of four children aged under five years old), preschool/kindergarten, or a nanny.

Child care in New Zealand:
If you are living in New Zealand your child care options include; community owned or private long day care centres, home-based care (maximum of four children under five years old) a nanny or Kōhanga Reo (Māori language).


Before/after school care:
If you need before and after school care, we can help you identify options available in your area.

You may be eligible for financial assistance for this type of child care in the form of Child Care Subsidy (Australia) or OSCAR (New Zealand).

More details about CCS and OSCAR are listed on this page under "financial matters."

 

 

 

 

 

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vacation care

 

 

The right time for you, the right place

Sometimes, all you need is to know is your children will be safe (and happy) and dropping-off and picking-up is easy. Tell us what areas are convenient to you and we'll let you know if there is full or part time vacation care close by.

On the other hand (we like a challenge)

Future film directors, seven year old cricket tragics, aspiring artists, athletes or mathletes, dancing kid or danger kid... let us know what your child is interested in and we will do our best to track down a vacation activity that matches.

Vacation care rebate

Some vacation care programs are eligible for (in Australia) Child Care Subsidy (CCS) or (New Zealand) the Out of School Care and Recreation Subsidy (OSCAR). If we are helping you find vacation care we will let you know if the service is approved for CCS or OSCAR.

 

financial matters

 

The two sides of eligibility; your family & the service type

Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for a government subsidy or rebate. Financial assistance may also depend on what type of service you have your child enrolled in.

Child care subsidies - Australia

You can get Child Care Subsidy (CCS) if you are a parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending child care services approved by, or registered with, the Government. You must meet certain requirements to receive CCS.

The amount of CCS you receive depends on:

  • your income - you may be eligible for some CCS with a combined family income up to $340,000
  • the type of care you use, for example long day care or vacation care
  • the amount of care you use
  • meeting a work activity test - a minimum of 8 hours of approved activity per fortnight. Work activity includes paid or self-employed work, looking for work, unpaid work in a family business, volunteering or studying
  • the number of children in care

Detailed information can be found at Centrelink.

Child care subsidies - New Zealand

New Zealand residents can apply for Childcare Subsidy (for under 5's or under 6's if you're receiving Disability Allowance for your child) or OSCAR (for after school or vacation care).

You could get help with up to nine hours of child care a week if you’re not working, studying or training, and up to 50 hours a week if you’re:

  • working, studying or on an approved training course, or
  • involved in an activity that Work and Income has asked you to do, or
  • a shift worker who works nights, or
  • seriously ill or disabled, or
  • caring for a child in hospital or for a child you get the Child Disability Allowance for.

Source: http://www.workandincome.govt.nz/ For more information about OSCAR visit http://www.oscarnz.org.nz/

standards

What to look for in children's services

Good location? Tick! Availability? Tick! Happy, caring staff? Tick!

These are all important factors, but don't forget to make sure you choose a child care provider that is working toward national quality standards.

Australia: National Quality Framework (NQF)

The NQF establishes higher standards for all education and care services in Australia for children to age 13 years.

The NQF sets levels of safety and quality to benefit all children and families who use approved education and care services. Link

New Zealand: Education Review Office (ERO) Reports

Education Evaluation Reports on national educational issues are based on information compiled by ERO through its reviews of individual schools and early childhood services.

*  The Work|Life Links service is available to employees of our clients. Please check with your Diversity/Human Resources department to confirm whether you are eligibile. If your employer is not yet a client and would like to make our services available, please contact us.

 

 

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Contact us:
links@familiesatwork.com
Australia (free call): 1800 631 024
New Zealand (free call): 0800 455 804