In the first week of the State Government’s Cheaper Child Care reforms, families should have paid on average about 14 per cent less per hour per child for centre-based care.
Federal Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell said childcare was one of the biggest bills, after mortgages, that families pay.
“McEwen is in the top five of electorates nationwide with children aged zero to five and about 6500 local families are receiving cost of living relief under these reforms that commenced on July, 1 2023,” he said.
With the increased childcare subsidy, a family earning $120,000 with one child in care can expect to save about $2000 in childcare costs this financial year.

All Australian families earning under $530,000 per year are entitled to a subsidy, with percentage of subsidy adjusted based on income.
Centre-based care includes daycare, pre-school, out of school hours care, occasional care and family daycare at a venue other than a residence.
“The Federal Government’s cheaper childcare changes are benefitting about 302,100 Victorian families,” Mr Mitchell said.
“This is real cost-of-living relief for many local families, that is good for children, good for parents and good for our community.”
Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly said she was proud of how the reforms were helping Australian families.
“More affordable early childhood education and care is a win-win for Australian families,” she said.
“It delivers cost of living relief, makes it easier to increase household income and more Australian children can access the transformational health and education benefits of foundation years learning no matter their postcode or background.”
The changes also mean that First Nations children can get at least 36 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care each fortnight, regardless of their family’s activity level.
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