More than 100,000 families in Western Sydney will soon benefit from Cheaper Child Care.
Legislation to change the Child Care Subsidy takes effect from Saturday and will deliver Cheaper Child Care for around 1.2 million families across the country from July.
Dr Mike Freelander, Member for Macarthur, said that these changes will benefit about 9,200 families in the electorate of Macarthur.
“I hear from local families almost every day about their concerns regarding access to early education when I’m out in the electorate, and I know local families are counting down the days for more affordable, quality early education and care,” Dr Freelander said.
For a family earning $120,000 with one child in care – their child care costs will be about $1,700 a year less than they otherwise would be.
For families on a combined income of $80,000 or less, the Child Care Subsidy rate will lift to 90 per cent.
For families with two or more children aged five or under in care, the higher subsidy of up to 95 per cent for the second and subsequent children in care will remain.
Minister for Education Jason Clare said that apart from their mortgage or rent, child care is the biggest bill that a lot of Australian families have to pay.
“This is a practical measure that is good for children, good for parents and good for the country,” Mr Clare said.
The number of Indigenous children in early education will also be boosted by increasing the baseline number of hours of subsidised early childhood education and care families are eligible for each fortnight.
Families can now calculate their Child Care Subsidy by visiting www.childcaresubsidy.gov.au
