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Care For Kids

Resource Corner

Journey to Care

Sorting Costs & Payments

Sorting Costs & Payments

When you start looking at childcare costs, it can feel like a lot to take in — daily fees, subsidies, inclusions, and a few terms you may not have come across before. It’s completely normal to wonder what you’ll actually end up paying, and how it all fits into your family budget. The good news is, once you understand the key pieces - like how the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) works, what affects fees and what’s included - things become much clearer. This stage is about making sense of the numbers in a practical, manageable way. Not to calculate everything perfectly, but to get a realistic picture of costs, ask the right questions and feel more confident about what childcare will look like for your family financially.

Can you get CCS and other government payments at the same time?

Trending 3 min read

Can you get CCS and other government payments at the same time?

Yes, in many cases you can receive the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) alongside other government payments. CCS works alongside payments like Family Tax Benefit (FTB), which helps with general living costs, while CCS specifically reduces childcare fees. These payments are assessed separately, although your income can affect eligibility for both. Paid Parental Leave (PPL) works slightly differently - you generally can’t receive CCS for the same hours you’re being paid PPL to care for your child. However, CCS can begin once you return to work and start using childcare. Understanding how these payments work together can help you better plan your childcare costs and overall family budget.

What are CCS hourly rate caps?

Trending 4 min read

What are CCS hourly rate caps?

Is three-year-old kinder really worth it? VIC just found out

Latest 4 min read

Is three-year-old kinder really worth it? VIC just found out

Do I still have to pay for childcare when my child is sick or absent?

Trending 5 min read

Do I still have to pay for childcare when my child is sick or absent?

Child Care Subsidy (CCS)

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Centrelink 3 min read

Centrelink 3 min read

Can I get more than 3 days (72 hours) of Child Care Subsidy?
CCS 4 min read

CCS 4 min read

How is my Child Care Subsidy (CCS) calculated?
CCS 4 min read

CCS 4 min read

What are CCS hourly rate caps?
4 min read

4 min read

Can I get Child Care Subsidy if I’m not an Australian Citizen?
4 min read

4 min read

What is the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?
5 min read

5 min read

Am I eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS)?

Cost of Care

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4 min read

4 min read

Is three-year-old kinder really worth it? VIC just found out
5 min read

5 min read

What affects the cost of childcare in Australia?
5 min read

5 min read

What’s the difference between daily and hourly childcare fees?
5 min read

5 min read

What extra childcare costs should I expect?
5 min read

5 min read

Do I still have to pay for childcare when my child is sick or absent?

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