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TAKING LEAVE Costs, Timing and Tax The information on this page is a guide to advice found on publically available websites. It is not professional
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Finding quality and affordable child care remains one of the key barriers for parents’ return to work plans. It’s important to figure out what’s right for you and your children.
The most common types of child care:
Finding the right child care
Finding good child care is a process that can take time so start researching your options early. The Starting Blocks is a good place to start.
Many child care centres and family day care schemes have long waiting lists. Other options – such as selecting a nanny – can be very time consuming (and costly). Some families use a combination of care options to fit with their caring needs and budget.
Visiting and talking to the carers will be your best chance of finding the best fit for your child. If possible, try to drop into the centre or facility outside of your appointment time so that you can see how things really work and try to visit at a couple of different times of the day.
Some options to consider
Here are a few other options to consider:
Child care tips: How to balance care and work needs
Some considerations for you in thinking through the support you and your partner can provide each other include:
Have a conversation with your partner to figure out all the family responsibilities, such as child care drop off/ hand over and pick up, household chores, preparing meals, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. and figuring out how you can make this work collectively.
Also consider if there is anything that you can outsource that would save you time and energy. This may include:
All family units operate differently. It is about finding what works for you as a family and also keeping those conversations going as care needs change.
When it comes to work, it is key to have a conversation with your manager or boss about your hours of work and caring commitments. Be clear on some of the absolutes that you now may have, such as days you need to leave by a certain time to collect your child/children.
What you need to know about Government Child Care Subsidies
The first thing to know is that the Government’s support payments change often – if not the provisions around it, the rates adjust to inflation – so it’s important to stay on top of what the latest information is.
The Services Australia page Top Payments for Raising Kids is a good place to start. Here’s a summary of what you may have access to.
Family Tax Benefit (FTB)
The Family Tax Benefit is a two-part Government payment specifically provided to help parents with the cost of raising children.
The first payment is called FTB Part A – This is a fortnightly payment paid for each child based on the age of your child/ren and your income. For example, the highest rate received for a child between 1 and 12 years is $191.24 per fortnight. To read about the income test and limits for FTB Part A visit Services Australia here.
The second payment is called FTB Part B – This benefit provides extra support for single parents, non-parent carers, grandparent carers and families with one main income. This payment is based on the age of your youngest child and your income. It is also paid per family rather than per child. The maximum rate per family each fortnight currently sits at $162.54 when the youngest child is 0 to 5 years of age and $113.54 when the youngest child is 5 to 18 years of age. To read about the income test and limits for FTB Part B visit Services Australia here.
For a guide on how to claim Family Tax Benefit A and B visit here.
Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
Child Care Subsidy is a Government payment to assist parents with the cost of child care for children aged 13 or younger, providing the care is from an approved child care service. The subsidy is paid directly to your child care provider which then reduces the fees you pay. The paid CCS component will show up on your provider’s invoice.
Approved child care includes centre-based day care (i.e. long day care and occasional care), family day care, outside of school hours – OOSH – care (i.e. before and after school care and vacation care) and in home care. The In Home Care program is for situations where other care options are not available or appropriate due to a family’s work participation status.
For a guide on how to claim Child Care Subsidy visit here.
Parenting Payment
The Parenting Payment is to provide income support for young children if you are their main carer. This payment amount depends on your and your partner’s income and assets and is paid to the main or principal carer.
The principal carer is considered to be the person who is responsible for the most amount of day-to-day care, welfare and development of your child. If two people have equal care you need to nominate who the principal carer is.
The principal carer can receive this payment when your child is under 8 if you’re a single parent or under 6 if you are partnered.
Unlike the other parent related payments it is taxable. Pending income limits the maximum fortnightly payment a single parent will receive is $880.20 whilst a partnered parent or carer will receive $585.30.
For a guide on how to claim the Parenting Payment visit here.
Single Income Family Supplement
This Government payment is an annual payment of up to $300 to support families where there is one main income earner with a taxable income between $68,000 and $150,000 and does not have second income earner with a taxable income above $18,000.
For a guide on how to claim the Single Income Family Supplement visit here.
Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS)
This Government payment covers part or all of the cost of basic dental services for children. To be eligible your child needs to be under 17 years old, is eligible for Medicare and has at least one parent receiving a payment from Services Australia.
Up to $1,026 over two calendar years will be covered by the CDBS. Services covered include check-ups, X-rays, cleaning, fissure sealing, fillings, root canals and extractions. Orthodontic, cosmetic and hospital dental work are not covered.
For a guide on how to claim the Child Dental Benefits Schedule visit here.
There are additional payments available for parents and carers. It is worth contacting Services Australia to find out if you’re eligible for any given your particular circumstances.
Note, with most of the Government payments there are residency and immunisation requirements.
The article “Child Care : What to Expect” was prepared for SMS4dads by Parents at Work
TAKING LEAVE Costs, Timing and Tax The information on this page is a guide to advice found on publically available websites. It is not professional
CHILDCARE What to expect Finding quality and affordable child care remains one of the key barriers for parents’ return to work plans. It’s important to
RETURNING TO WORK Why ‘Keeping in Touch’ is helpful If you are taking extended leave when your baby is born, before starting it is important
PLANNING YOUR LEAVE What’s in it for dads? Here are two dads who took extended parental leave when their children were born and the difference
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.
Richard credits a varied career, a talented and innovative team, and much life experience for affording him the insight needed to address the challenges related to actively engaging dads.
After completing his masters in Medical Science, studying epidemiology, Richard earned his PhD focusing on fathers and attachment.
“Fathers are invisible in many places, and that is endemic. Not because people dislike fathers, but because the system is set up to be focused on mothers.”
Some services and organisations are aware of the need to engage dads, but have been unsuccessful in their attempts.
“When people are challenged about this, they generally want dads involved,” Richard affirms.
“Often, however, they just don’t know how to do it.”
Richard works with health professionals on issues related to fathers, and has delivered many antenatal programs for expectant dads.
He credits his own family with giving him an understanding of the role of fathers needed to make his work relevant.
“I have three daughters and two stepdaughters,”
“My kids would say they taught me just about everything I know and they’d be right. They’ve taught me a lot, and still do.”
Richard’s research revealed possible long-term negative impacts on the children of dads with mental health issues. Fathers’ depressive symptoms in the first year after the birth predicted behaviour problems in their children years later.
“If dads’ mental health has such a dramatic impact then we need to be screening dads for depression, not just mums,” Richard explains.
In response to these limitations, Richard and his team have designed a smart-phone based program that allows mobile connection for new and expectant dads.
Participants receive texts containing information and links, and self-report their mood. If the mood tracker identifies dads as needing extra support, they will be offered a phone call from a counsellor trained in this area.
Following the success of the pilot of the SMS4dads program, Funding was received to enable a National roll-out.
“When dad’s miss antenatal classes or activities, they also miss out on contact and links to other people. They may never get the chance to say to anyone, look I’m really stressed,” he points out.
“SMS4dads is a way of bringing dads into the health system and keeping them linked in with services and support,” explains Richard.