Types of childcare assistance available
Your quick guide to types of childcare available.
Early Learning Payment (ELP)
Basic qualifications
- Be the caregiver of a dependent child.
- Be enrolled in a Family Start or Early Start programme.
- Child attends an Early Childhood Education centre or service.
Hours we can pay for
| Age | Number of hours paid for |
|---|---|
| 0 to 18 months | Nil |
| 18 months to 3 years | 20 hours a week if full qualifications are met |
| 3 to 18 years | Nil |
Qualifications (Manuals and Procedures)external
Rates
$10.02 an hour.
Childcare Subsidy (CCS)
Basic qualifications
- Be the main caregiver of a dependent child under 5 (or over 5 if the school has advised they can't start until the beginning of the term straight after their 5th birthday).
- Child attends an approved early childhood programme for at least 3 hours a week.
- Earn less than:
- $2,404 before tax a week with 1 dependent child
- $2,478 before tax a week with 2 dependent children
- $3,091 before tax a week with 3 or more dependent children.
Hours we can pay for
| Age | Number of hours paid for |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years |
Up to 50 hours a week if the person either:
Up to 9 hours a week if the person is not working, studying or training. |
| 6 years |
The person may be able to get Childcare Subsidy if they're getting Child Disability Allowance (CDA) for their child. |
| 7 to 18 years | Nil |
Rates
We can pay up to $6.72 an hour, depending on the person's income and how many children they have.
Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment (GCAP)
Basic qualifications
- Be the main caregiver of a child under 5 (or over 5 if the school has advised they can't start until the beginning of the term straight after their 5th birthday).
- Child attends an approved early childhood education programme or service.
- Either:
- get Young Parent Payment, or
- be included on their partner's main benefit and have youth obligations or
- be under 19 and not getting a benefit.
Hours we can pay for
| Age | Number of hours paid for |
|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | Up to 50 hours a week if the person is under 19 and meets their youth activity obligations. |
| 6 to 18 years | Nil |
Rates
Up to $6.72 an hour, up to $336 a week, per child.
20 Hours Early Childhood Education (ECE)
20 Hours ECE is a subsidy to help caregivers with the cost of children aged 3 to 5 years old attending early childhood education.
It’s paid by the Ministry of Education. Find out more on their website:
20 Hours ECE (Ministry of Education)external
Our clients can only get childcare assistance from us for the same hours they're getting 20 Hours ECE if:
- their child is at a home-based educator, and
- the home-based educator is charging a top up payment for the same hours as 20 Hours ECE.
Home-based educators may charge a top up payment to cover the difference between their normal hourly rate and the 20 Hours ECE.
Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) Subsidy
Basic qualifications
- Be the main caregiver of a dependent child under 14 (or under 18 if you get a Child Disability Allowance for them).
- Child is at school
- Child attends an approved Out of School Care and Recreation (OSCAR) programme for at least 3 hours a week.
- Earn less than:
- $2,404 before tax a week with 1 dependent child
- $2,748 before tax a week with 2 dependent children
- $3,091 before tax a week with 3 or more dependent children.
Hours we can pay for
| Age | Number of hours paid for |
|---|---|
| 0 to 3 years | Nil |
| 4 to 13 years |
Up to 20 hours a week during school term and up to 50 hours a week during school holidays, if the person either:
|
| 14 to 18 years |
The person may be able to get OSCAR Subsidy if they're getting Child Disability Allowance (CDA) for their child. |
Rates
We can pay up to $6.72 an hour, depending on the person's income and how many children they have.
Flexible Childcare Assistance
Basic qualifications
- Is the principal caregiver of a dependent child or young person.
- Has informal childcare costs because they're unable to access formal childcare.
- Is in or starting an employment-related activity for at least 3 hours a week during times they need informal childcare.
- There are more criteria regarding the type and duration of the employment related activity.
Hours we can pay for
| Age | Number of hours we can pay for |
|---|---|
| 0 to 18 years | Between $67.48 and $202.44 a week for up to 52 weeks, if person meets full qualifications |
Rates
How many children |
Rate |
| 1 child | $67.48 a week |
| 2 children | $101.22 a week |
| 3 children | $134.96 a week |
| 4 children | $168.70 a week |
| 5 or more children | $202.44 a week |