Families using child care in Geelong are being urged to make sure they are not missing out on the Australian Government’s $18.1 billion investment in child care affordability payments.

Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care Kate Ellis today said that many Australian families who use child care, didn’t realise that they were eligible for Government support.

“I urge every Australian family who is using or thinking about child care to visit the mychild.gov.au website and check out whether they are eligible for Australian Government assistance with child care costs,” Ms Ellis said.

“Child Care Rebate covers 50 per cent of out-of-pocket child care costs up to $7,500 per child per year and is not means tested – so it is of critical assistance to Australian families across the income spectrum.”

Around 7000 families in the electorates of Corangamite and Corio were using approved child care service last year and it is estimate that as many as 10 per cent of those families weren’t claiming the assistance they were eligible for.

Federal Member for Corangamite Darren Cheeseman joined Ms Ellis in encouraging families to ensure they are not missing out.

“Many families in my electorate may find they could be paying a lot less for child care with the help of Australian Government assistance,” Mr Cheeseman said.

“This Government is investing in child care affordability like no Government ever has before and I don’t want families in my electorate to be missing out on the assistance that they are entitled to.”

Mr Marles encouraged local parents and carers to visit the mychild.gov.au website, where they can access a user-friendly estimator tool which will help them work out how much financial assistance they could be getting with their child care costs.

“I’m proud that in 2008 the Australian Government increased the Child Care Rebate from 30 to 50 per cent of parents’ out-of-pocket costs and increased the maximum amount per child from $4,354 to $7,500,” he said.

“As a direct result of this increased investment, the proportion of family income being spent on child care has decreased for 13 percent in 2004 to 7.5 percent in 2011 – which makes a real difference for families in my electorate.”

Minister Ellis said that “the Government had now given families the option to receive the Child Care Rebate fortnightly and directly to their child care service provider for an immediate reduction to their child care fees.

“This means parents can access the rebate at the time they incur their child care fees instead of waiting till the end of the year like they did under the previous Government - making it easier to manage their weekly child care costs and family budget,” she said.

Families can contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50 or visit the www.mychild.gov.au website for more information on the Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate and whether they are eligible for this financial assistance.