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Settling down in Australia with your family? If so, then great. The Land Down Under is home to many well-developed policies, including childcare policies that comprehensively support quality education for young kids and working parents.
In fact, the Australian government is fairly proactive in pushing for proper childcare policies. It’s not a private practice that differs from childcare facility to childcare facility; it’s a structured mode of education that adheres to national standards.
Childcare, for the uninitiated, is a type of education primarily intended for children aged five or below. It comes in various forms, including centre-based care or more intimate, home-based arrangements. In any case, every Australian child has the right to go to childcare to advance their education and development.
So, where do migrant children fit into the picture? And how can families who’ve recently moved in help their child access this form of education?
If you’ve recently moved to Australia and are wondering how to navigate the childcare enrolment and selection process, then you’re in the right place. We’ll give you a rundown on the most crucial details you should know before enrolling your child in a childcare facility.
Let’s jump right into it.
1) Know the Different Types of Childcare
Child care in Australia, which is also known as early childhood education and care, can come in a range of different available options.
Each type caters to specific needs, and it’s important to be aware of these differences to ensure that your toddler will pass through an education system that’s appropriate for them at this time, based on your family’s circumstances.
Here are the five main options that you can encounter when shopping for potential childcare centres:
- Home-based care: This type of childcare is conducted at home by qualified home-based educators.
- Centre-based care: This type of education is conducted in a classroom-like facility. It often runs the whole day from early morning to late afternoon.
- Family day care: This type of daycare is run by a qualified educator from their home office. Classes are often smaller, and the environment is more flexible.
- Business-related creches: Businesses may offer employers the benefit of providing their employees’ children with education. This form of education can be on-site in the work setting or online through applications and resources.
- Outside school hours care: A supplementary childcare option designed to allow primary-aged kids to continue learning beyond traditional school hours.
As seen above, each mode of childcare serves a unique purpose that caters to different lifestyles and educational priorities. As such, it’s important to hone in on your child’s age, your work hours, and the type of education you wish your child to receive before selecting your early childhood care facility.
In any case, knowing the distinctions between the different forms of childcare helps you make an informed decision that best aligns with your family’s goals and your child’s educational attainment.
If you want to learn more, consider reading this Westpac childcare and community support guide for more information.
2) Understand the Costs and Subsidies Available
Childcare in Australia can be expensive, particularly if you’re shouldering everything from scratch.
On average, families are expected to spend $70 to $200 Australian Dollars per day for their child’s education. This price range doesn’t yet include the supplementary items that support your child’s education, such as notebooks, meals, or special classes.
As this is the case, many citizens and migrants often look for financial support to reduce the cost of childcare in their area. This grant can come in various forms.
For instance, the child care subsidy (CCS) is a government-designed payment system that covers a portion of a parent’s childcare fees proportionate to their income threshold and the number of hours the child spends in daycare.
Parents can apply for this grant through myGov or Services Australia. That said, you must have a permanent resident status to be eligible to apply for this subsidy. Temporary visa holders may be eligible under specific conditions, but it’s best to see the rights available for your specific residency status.
Beyond that, there are some special cases wherein childcare expenses can be covered to an even greater extent—a grant called the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS).
For instance, if the grandparent is the primary carer, extra financial aid may be given. If the family is facing temporary financial hardship, like a job loss or illness, they can apply for additional financial aid as well.
In any case, utilising any avenue to reduce the expenses associated with childcare is something that every migrant should look into before enrolling their child on the facility. This way, you can keep a good handle on your finances as you navigate the moving process to this fairly expensive nation.
3) Learn About the Enrolment Process
Another vital thing you should familiarise yourself with is the general enrollment process for your child’s education.
If you’re planning to enrol your child in a daycare, then give the facility a call and ask for the instructions you need to follow and the requirements you need to submit. They’ll be more than happy to guide you along the way.
Childcare centres would first need to approve any CCS claim that you may have lodged on your child’s behalf. Through the myGov website, your family will have to fill out your family details on the form. Do so.
Once that’s accomplished, you and the childcare facility can then proceed to finalise an agreement regarding the eligibility of the enrolment of your child. The childcare provider approves the case in writing and digitally through a complying written agreement (CWA), then so does the family via their Centrelink online account.
Some centres prefer it if you come to them early so that they can secure a slot for your child to study under their care. To cease care, you simply have to wait for the enrolment end date and stop bringing your kid to childcare. You will, however, receive a reminder about the ending date of enrolment four weeks prior.
4) Immunise Your Children
Health and safety are something that the Australian government takes very seriously. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with children, as they don’t have the mental faculties to gauge actions which may increase their chance of infection and diseases or not.
As their parent, it’s important that you play your part in ensuring that your child is safe, as well as all the other children and teachers in direct contact with him or her. These childcare centres typically require you to provide medical proof of past immunisations for your child before accepting the enrolment notice.
If you haven’t vaccinated your child yet, then do so at the soonest possible time. Furthermore, it’s also important to ensure that the childcare you’re enrolling your child on upholds quality hygienic standards as well.
You can ask, for instance, if the classroom has nappies and sunscreen readily available for the kids. Knowing the cleaning procedures for public utilities like toys and toilets is also a good thing to know as a parent.
By knowing the hygiene and safety standards of the childcare facility, you’ll feel confident knowing that your child is safe and secure even without your daily supervision.
5) Know What Going to Childcare Entails
Sending your kid to childcare is different from sending them to school.
For starters, they’re not learning about subjects like maths and science in the conventional sense of the world. They’re there to develop skills that can make them more independent, emotionally resilient, and openly communicative. This is often conducted through play-based group activities.
For instance, a day in a childcare facility may start off as free play or guided play early on in the school day. This can then be followed up by storytelling or activities that can enhance the child’s cognitive and social skills. Routines like chores may also be introduced in between these activities to instil discipline in the child.
Rest periods (or snack time) are strategically placed throughout the day between cognitive tasks, with one being in the mid-morning and one in the afternoon. Educators also use these moments of rest to discipline and support individual children in any specific areas where they may be lagging behind on.
The goal of childcare is to prepare children to become socially and emotionally ready to handle formal schooling in a safe environment. By enrolling your child in a childcare facility, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that their skills are being developed as you go about your workday.
We hope these tips help you approach childcare in Australia more confidently. All the best in moving to Australia!
