According to the federal government estimates nearly 100,000 Australian families are missing out on childcare rebates. Latest government data says 869,770 Australian families used childcare in the quarter to June 2010, an increase of 8.7 per cent on the previous year.
Child Care Minister Kate Ellis revealed that each family using approved childcare is eligible for up to $7,500 in rebates for each child annually. She said, “Obviously this is a substantial amount of money… We pay $14.9 billion in direct assistance to families over the next four years yet there’s about 100,000 of those families that are currently missing out.” She urged families to check for eligibility and avail the rebates adding, “Often parents might find out that they’re not entitled to the childcare benefit, so they automatically assume that they shouldn’t bother applying for anything else…That’s the wrong assumption to make. The childcare rebate is there so that Australian families can afford childcare and we want people to check their eligibility.”
Childcare rebate increased from 30 to 50 per cent of parents’ out-of-pocket costs in 2008 and the maximum amount of subsidies for a child also rose from $4,354 to $7,500 each year. The rebate carries no income test. Stay-at-home mums are also eligible for the Child Care Rebate for up to two days of approved care a week. Details can be sought at www.familyassist.gov.au or 13 61 50.
According to Childcare Alliance president Gwynn Bridge, “It’s something that we probably do need the Government to do a little bit more information to families on because families don’t usually go to websites…So whether it be handouts through the services or something where we can actually talk to the families and try to work out what the barriers are.”