100 days until cheaper child care

In one-hundred days cheaper early childhood education and care will become a reality – providing cost-of-living relief for around 1.2 million Australian families.

The milestone comes as new data reveals child care costs soared by 49 per cent under the previous government. 

From July, the Albanese Government is taking action to deliver real cost-of-living relief for families.

For the average family on about $120,000 with a child in care three days a week, the changes will cut costs by about $1,700 a year.

The Child Care Subsidy rates will lift to 90 per cent for families on a combined income of $80,000 or less.

The higher subsidy of up to 95 per cent for families with second and subsequent children aged five or under in care will be retained.

The number of hours of subsidised care First Nations children are eligible for will also rise to a minimum of 36 hours a fortnight from July, benefiting around 6,600 families and encouraging more to use care.

Comment attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“In one-hundred days child care will get cheaper for more than one million Australian families.

“In one-hundred days the changes we promised at the election will become a reality.

“Anyone with children in early childhood education and care knows how expensive it is. This will make a real difference.

“Access to quality, affordable early education and care is great for children, it’s great for parents, and it is great for our economy.”

Comment attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

“We’re delivering real relief to the household budgets of families struggling with the rising cost of living, while also improving the economic security of women.

“The cost of early childhood education is one of the first things families have to factor in when they sit down at the kitchen bench to do the household budget – we’re helping to ease that pressure.

“More affordable early childhood education and care means more Australian children can access the transformative health and education benefits of foundation years learning no matter their background.”