3 Popular Childcare Options To Consider If You're About To Return To Work
Posted on: 22 August 2017
Returning to work after having children is an exciting and daunting prospect for many Australian women. You may be relishing the thought of resuming your career and spending time with your work colleagues in an adult environment after many months or years of nappy changing and child centred activities. You may also be feeling a little bewildered and daunted about finding the right child care for your preschool aged children.
Fortunately, there are several different options for child care that are available in Australia. The right one for you and your children will largely be determined by the cost and the hours that you require. Here are the three most common types of childcare available that you can choose from.
1. Daycare centres
Daycare centres are community-based childcare providers who cater for children of all ages. They're generally divided into different age groups and provide care for your children in a sociable and educational environment. Daycare centres provide care for twelve hours per day on weekdays only.
Daycare centre fees can appear to be expensive but they are registered to provide both the Child Care Rebate (CCR) and the Child Care Benefit (CCB) from the federal government which considerably lowers your out of pocket expense. Many centres also apply a discount for multiple children from the same family which can also help to reduce costs.
2. Family daycare providers
Family daycare providers are child carers who provide a service which is based in their own home. This is a great option if your child is better suited to a quieter and less busy environment and prefers a close relationship to one carer over the communal care offered in day care centres.
Registered family day care providers also allow you to claim both the CCB and CCR, making them an affordable option. They're also required to be insured, have police checks and have undertaken training in early childhood development. Their homes and vehicles are inspected regularly to ensure that they meet government child care health and safety requirements.
3. Nannies and Au Pairs
Nannies and Au Pairs provide care for your children at your home. This is a great option if you want your children to have one-on-one care with a carer that they develop a strong bond with. In home care is also appealing because it means less stress trying to get children ready for daycare while you're busy preparing for your day at work.
Nannies generally live elsewhere and often have formal qualifications, making them more experienced but more expensive than Au Pairs. Au Pairs live in your home and provide a small amount of child care in return for board and lodgings plus a small payment each week.
Share