2008 Budget Announced: Impact on Families Attending Child Care

How the new federal budget will affect the childcare sector and families...

The Rudd Government has issued its new budget and Guardian Childcare Alliance thought you would like to know as parents, how it will affect your childcare budget and early learning needs.

Increase in Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR)

The Government will increase the Child Care Tax Rebate from 30 to 50 %. This will ensure that, in addition to any Child Care Benefit (CCB) payable, up to half of a family's total out-of-pocket child care costs will be met every year. The cap on the amount that can be paid each year will also be lifted from the current amount of $4,354 to $7,500 per child.

The Government will also pay this 50 % Child Care Tax Rebate every three months, instead of once a year, providing continuous support to you, families with children. Also, Childcare Associations in most states are continuing to work with the Federal Government to have the CCTR paid more frequently than quarterly.

New Childcare Quality Rating System

The Government will develop rigorous new standards for child care. A new five category quality rating system will be introduced to give parents more information about their child care centre. The Government will invest $22 million over four years to develop new national quality standards for child care.

Every four-year-old Australian child will attend a universal preschool year

Over the next five years, the Rudd Government will invest $533.5 million to provide all Australian children with access to affordable early learning programs delivered by a qualified teacher. All children will have access to 15 hours a week of early learning programs for 40 weeks a year in the year before formal schooling. This measure will be fully implemented by 2013.

Guardian Childcare welcomes these significant Federal initiatives and will closely follow their implementation. As a matter of fact, we would like you to immediately benefit with a tremendous incentive available at all Guardian Childcare Alliance centres! We have just launched our new Referral Rewards Program: refer a friend to your Guardian Childcare Centre for a free trial day and you will receive a $100 credit* to your account!

Over the years, Guardian Childcare Alliance has built a reputation as one of the best childcare centre management companies in Australia. Our childcare centres thrive on the quality of our childcare services systems, our people and our ability to deliver a caring and nurturing environment for children in our care. Guardian also offers childcare consultants to assist current day care centre owners or prospective investors with childcare centre management advice.And if you would like to join the Guardian team, check out our dedicated child care jobs and careers website.

* Referral Rewards will not be paid out in cash but as a credit to your account. There is no limit to the number of families you can refer to a Guardian Childcare Centre. Referred families must be new families to a Guardian Childcare Centre, and must continue their enrolment of at least 1 full day session per week for 4 weeks for you to be eligible to claim your $100 Referral Reward. This Reward is offered on a family basis not per child.