Families are the big winners from early boost to Child Care Subsidy
– Increased funding brought forward
Australia’s peak body for early learning (childcare) services applauds the Australian Government for allowing families earlier access to more affordable childcare services next year.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will increase from 7 March 2022, four months earlier than expected.
Families, with multiple children, aged five years and under in care, will have their CCS rate increased by 30% for their second child and any younger children, to a maximum rate of 95%.
The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) President, Mr Paul Mondo, said the accelerated support will greatly assist those families who are doing it particularly tough, as a result of the extensive COVID-19 lockdowns in Victoria and New South Wales.
“We have long advocated for this boost in financial support to our families and we are pleased that the government is heeding our call to bring forward these important funding reforms.”
On average, eligible families will be $2,200 a year better off[1].
The annual CCS cap will also be removed on 10 December 2021 and applied retrospectively for the whole 2021-22 financial year.
“Our families can now plan how many days their children can attend their beloved early learning service in 2022, without inadvertently breaching their CCS annual cap,” Mr Mondo said.
“As the bedrock of Australia’s economy, our sector works hard to protect the children in our care, the educators who look after them and to support our families during this challenging COVID-19 pandemic.
We would like to wholeheartedly thank the Minister for Education, the Treasurer and the Prime Minister for recognising the importance of ensuring that all Australian families can continue to have affordable access to high quality early learning services,” Mr Mondo said.
“ACA will continue to work closely with the Government, as we all navigate this shifting economic and health landscape,” Mr Mondo said. “We will always prioritise the wellbeing of our families and the education and safety of their children.”
