The Morrison Government's Child Care Subsidy has made child care more affordable for low income and working families.
Data released today covering the first 12 months of the Child Care Subsidy show:
- Average child care fees increased by 45 cents per hour over the course of the year.
- Out-of-pocket costs were less than $5 per hour per child for the parents of 732,000 (74.6 per cent) children in centre based day care.
- Out-of-pocket costs were less than $2 per hour per child for the parents of nearly 233,000 (23.7 per cent) children in centre based day care.
- 1.65 million children used approved child care in 2018-19.
- 1.13 million families used approved child care in 2018-19.
- Almost 69,000 Indigenous children attended approved child care services, an increase of more than 44 per cent.
- More than 48,000 families received support through the Additional Child Care Subsidy.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the Morrison Government was providing more than $8 billion for child care this financial year, growing to almost $10 billion.
"Out-of-pocket costs for families are 7.9 per cent lower since the introduction of the Government's Child Care Package," Mr Tehan said.
"That means more money in the pockets of parents who are using child care while they work, study, learn, volunteer or transition to work.
"Under Labor, average child care fees increased by 52.9 per cent.
"Our Child Care package was the most significant reform to the sector and one year in, more children are engaged with early education and care and out-of-pocket costs for families have been reduced.
"We have introduced legislation to further improve the Child Care Package by cutting red tape, including extending the timeframe for enrolments to be ceased due to a child's non-attendance at a service from eight to 14 weeks.
"This means children who only use child care during school holidays won't need to be re-enrolled at the start of each break."
Families should keep their income estimates and activity test information up to date to ensure they are receiving the full value of the subsidy.
