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Camera IconStock image. Credit: Supplied/Getty Images

Education Minister Simon Birmingham calls on parents to update childcare details

Simon Birmingham, Federal Education MinisterEastern Reporter

PERTH families have long faced a harsh reality with a broken childcare system – sacrifice your career to care for your little ones or just work to cover the cost of exorbitant childcare fees.

MORE: Hundreds of thousands could miss childcare subsidies

As a parent who has been part of this system, I understand like many other families just how unforgiving it has been in the past. We’ve heard what you’ve said and we’re delivering the change for Australia’s working families.

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From July 2, you’ll no longer be required to navigate the complex benefits and rebates currently in place. Under the Turnbull Government’s New Child Care Package, these will be replaced by a single, streamlined Child Care Subsidy.

The new subsidy works in three ways. First, a family’s income will determine the percentage of subsidy they receive.

Simon Birmingham.
Camera IconSimon Birmingham. Credit: Supplied/David Foote

Second, the amount of work, time spent looking for work, studying or volunteering parents undertake will determine the number of subsidised hours of care they can claim.

Finally, the type of childcare service a family uses will determine the hourly rate cap that their subsidy will be calculated at.

Under the new arrangements, we will provide the greatest amount of support to families who work the most hours and the greatest level of financial support to families who earn the least.

For families to take advantage of the changes, they need to make the switch ahead of July 2. More support for more families is just weeks away but the switchover to the new system isn’t automatic.

In WA, up to 48 per cent of families are yet to complete the Child Care Subsidy assessment process so I urge you to do this now through myGov to transition smoothly so there’s no disruption to your subsidy payments.

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