Unlock Savings: Childcare Subsidy Info
The cost of child care is different for every family in Geraldton, WA. It depends on the age of your child, the number of days in child care as well as your eligibility for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). Knowing the subsidy rate early helps parents plan ahead and get everything ready for their child’s start in childcare. We recommend contacting one of our centres, where one of our team members can discuss the daily fees with you.
Total family income
Your Child Care Subsidy percentage is calculated based on your total family income. The following table shows the percentage of the government’s contribution, based on a family’s total income.
Family income
Child Care Subsidy percentage
$0 to $72,466
85%
More than $72,466 to below $177,466
Between 85% and 50% The percentage goes down by 1% for every $3,000 of income your family earns
$177,466 to below $256,756
50%
$256,756 to below $346,756
Between 50% and 20% The percentage goes down by 1% for every $3,000 of income your family earns
$346,756 to below $356,756
20%
$356,756 or more
0%
* The amounts are correct from July 2020 and may be adjusted in subsequent years.
What counts as activity?
Recognised activities can include any of the following:
- paid work, including being self-employed
- paid or unpaid leave, including paid or unpaid parental or maternity leave
- unpaid work in a family business
- unpaid work experience or an unpaid internship
- actively setting up a business.
They can also include any of these:
- doing an approved course of education or study
- doing training to improve work skills or employment prospects
- actively looking for work
- volunteering
- other activities on a case-by-case basis.
What is an hourly fee?
The hourly fee refers to the amount your child care charges you for each hour of care. The number of hours in a session may not be the number of hours your child actually attends. Contact us today to discuss the number of hours in a session at Little Kingdom Childcare.
Your Child Care Subsidy percentage will apply to the lowest of either the benchmark fee set by the government or the centre’s hourly fee
Type of childcare
Hourly rate cap
Centre-Based Day Care – long day care and occasional care
$12.74
Family Day Care
$11.80
Outside School Hours Care – before, after and vacation care
$11.15
In-Home Care
$34.64, per family
* The amounts are correct from July 2020 and may be adjusted in subsequent years.
How can I apply for a Child Care Subsidy in Australia?
To apply or find out more about what you’re entitled to, visit the government website at the link below.
Book a tour at our class-leading childcare centre
We are here to give your child the best possible early education and care. Book a tour at our centre today to see why Little Kingdom Childcare is the perfect learning environment for your child.
FAQs
The CCS can cover up to 85% of your childcare fees, depending on your family’s combined annual income. The subsidy percentage decreases gradually as income increases. Families earning up to $72,466 per year may receive the full 85%, while those earning above $356,756 may not qualify for a subsidy.
Families in Geraldton, WA, can also check estimated entitlement using the government’s Child Care Subsidy estimator on the Services Australia website.
To qualify for CCS, you must:
- Care for a child aged 13 or younger who is not attending secondary school
- Use an approved childcare service such as Little Kingdom Childcare
- Meet Australian residency or citizenship requirements
- Have at least 14% shared child care
You can apply for CCS through your MyGov account, linked to Centrelink. Here’s how:
- Sign in to MyGov and select Centrelink
- Go to Menu → Payments and claims → Claims → Make a claim
- Choose Apply for Family Assistance → Check your eligibility → Select the Child Care Subsidy
- Provide details about your family, income and childcare provider
Once your claim is approved, the subsidy is paid directly to your childcare service.