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Child care

Child care is an essential element in the Australian Government's commitment to promote the well-being of Australian families with young children. It helps parents to participate in the workforce and the broader community.

The Australian Government provides generous subsidies for child care to assist parents to return to the workforce, and study or train in preparation for returning to the workforce.

Below you'll find information and links to services that can help you find child care services so that you can return to work.

  • Child Care Access Hotline
    In order to help parents return to the workforce the Australian Government has established the Child Care Access Hotline. The Hotline is a telephone service that provides you with information to help you choose a child care service that meets your needs. 

    When you call the Hotline on 1800 670 305 (available between 8am to 9pm, Monday to Friday) a professionally trained operator can provide you with information about:
    • child care services in your area
    • types of child care available
    • quality issues
    • government financial assistance with the cost of childcare.

Various child care options such as long day care, family day care, in-home care, outside school hours care and occasional care will be explained so that you can make an informed choice.

  • JET Child Care
    Jobs, Education & Training (JET) Child Care provides extra help with the cost of approved child care to support parents while they undertake study, work, or job search activities. JET Child Care fee assistance is available for limited periods of time to eligible parents who have an activity agreement requirement to undertake activities to help them enter or re-enter the workforce.
  • Child Care Benefit  
    Child Care Benefit is a payment to help families who use approved and registered child care. All eligible families can receive some Child Care Benefit - find out if you are eligible and how much you will get paid.
  • Child care - FaCSIA
    The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) helps families to participate in the social and economic life of the community through the provision of support for child care services. Read more about how FaCSIA helps families with the cost of child care and helps to ensure that services provide quality care.
  • Child care - community support payments
    FaCSIA administers a range of programs that support access to child care for children and families in areas or circumstances where the market could otherwise fail to provide child care services. You can read more about these programmes through the above link.
  • CareforKids.com.au
    CareforKids is an online child care resource. CareforKids.com.au works closely with the child care industry to provide useful information to assist your search for quality child care. It's the gateway to child care centres, family day care facilities, pre-schools and before and after school care services.

Please see our Frequently asked questions about child care for more information about accessing child care services and benefits.