More than 100,000 families in Western Sydney will benefit from Cheaper Child Care from July.
Legislation to change the Child Care Subsidy takes effect from Saturday and will deliver Cheaper Child Care for around 1.2 million families across the country from July.
This is good for children, good for families and good for Australia.
For a family earning $120,000 with one child in care – their child care costs will be about $1,700 a year less than they otherwise would be.
For families on a combined income of $80,000 or less, the Child Care Subsidy rate will lift to 90 per cent.
For families with two or more children aged five or under in care, the higher subsidy of up to 95 per cent for the second and subsequent children in care will remain.
The number of Indigenous children in early education will also be boosted by increasing the baseline number of hours of subsidised early childhood education and care families are eligible for each fortnight.
Families can now calculate their Child Care Subsidy by visiting www.childcaresubsidy.gov.au
Minister for Education Jason Clare said ““More than 100,000 families in Western Sydney will get Cheaper Child Care to help with cost-of-living pressures and make it easier for parents to return to paid work, or work
more paid hours, if they want to. Apart from their mortgage or rent, child care is the biggest bill that a lot of Australian
families have to pay.
“This is a practical measure that is good for children, good for parents and good for the
country.”
Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander stressed that “the Albanese Government’s Cheaper Child Care changes will benefit about 9,200 families in the electorate of Macarthur.
“I hear from local families almost every day about their concerns regarding access to early education when I’m out in the electorate, and I know local families are counting down the days for more affordable, quality early education and care.
“Cheaper Child Care will bring real cost-of-living relief to many local families, and an opportunity for more families to work, grow and thrive in our wonderful community.”
Member for Werriwa, Anne Stanley explained that “around 7,400 local Werriwa families will feel the benefits of Cheaper Child Care.
“This is real cost-of-living relief to the household budgets for families struggling with the rising cost of living, while also improving the economic security of women.
“The cost of early childhood education is one of the first things families have to factor in when they sit down at the kitchen bench to do the household budget – we’re helping to ease that pressure.”