The Immigrant's Guide to Living in Australia by Hymie Zawatzkty

Author:Hymie Zawatzkty
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780987330222
Publisher: BookPOD
Published: 2013-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

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I am a working mother. Is there a child care system in Australia?

Many new immigrants arriving in Australia with their families find that both husbands and wives have to work. As this is in fact very common here, Australia is well geared towards caring for children below school age.

These are some of the child care choices for children less than five years of age in Victoria but many states have a similar structure:

•Private child care centres.

•Community child care centres (not for profit centres).

•Family day care-up to four, where pre-school children are cared for by a carer in the carer’s home.

•In addition to childcare some centres offer playgroups for parents who want to stay with their child while they socialise with other children.

•Private and Community centre based care (also known as Long Day Care)

These are usually run by private companies, local councils, community organisations, individuals, non- profit organisations or by employers for their staff.

They are run by qualified staff and usually open Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 6 pm. Children are usually grouped according to age and their development stage.

All centres must be licenced and carefully regulated with strict rules as to the running and maintenance of the centres, the quality of care and food provided and the number of children in attendance.

Waiting Lists are common due to the high demand so register as early as you can after arriving in Australia.

Most long day care centres will have an early education component in their program so children will learn as they are cared for.

The cost of such centres range from $60 to $100 dollars per day. However if the centres are approved child care services, the family using the service may be eligible for Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate as approved by Centrelink. Details of these rebates are stated below.

Family day care

With family care, carers look after children aged from 6 weeks to 6 years who are not yet in school, in their own home. In certain circumstances they may also provide care for older school aged children. All carers must be trained in first aid and have undergone the Working with Children Check. From 2014 all carers will need to have a certificate III level early childhood education and care qualification

The hours of care are flexible. Carers can provide care for the whole day or part of the day. Some carers offer overnight or weekend assistance. This may suit new migrants who are on call or work shifts.

The cost of such family day care ranges from $4.50 to $7.50 per hour. Again you may be able to access Child Care Benefits and the Child Care Rebate to offset these costs

In home care

In home care is similar to family day care except that the professional carer looks after the child in the child’s home. However this is not widely available. It is mostly used where other forms of care are not suitable. This will be the case where the child lives with another child, who has an

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