What ages does Veronica Street Children’s Centre cater for?
We cater for children from 6 weeks to school age.
What are the operating hours?
Operating hours are from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year. We’re not open on weekends or public holidays.
Do the children receive meals?
We provide morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and sometimes breakfast and a late snack where required. We have own cook creating fresh, healthy meals for the children. A nutritious diet is vital for children’s development, so we make sure to provide meals that give children all the nutrients and energy they need. We encourage self feeding where appropriate.
Are nappies provided for babies and toddlers?
Yes, however if your child requires a particular brand or type, we recommend supplying your own.
How much does it cost to send my child to Veronica Street Children’s Centre?
We have a set fee per day, however daily fees vary for individual families depending on how many days your child is in care. You may also be eligible for government subsidies that will make a difference to your fees. Talk to the Centre Director for a quote.
What happens if my scheduled day falls on a public holiday?
Like most early learning centres, Veronica Street Children’s Centre closes for public holidays. If your scheduled day falls on a public holiday, we still need to charge to cover staff costs. This is a sector-standard practice. Early learning professionals are entitled to be paid on public holidays as in other industries. The Australian Government’s Child Care Benefit (CCB) covers up to 42 absence days a year, which includes public holidays. So unless you exceed this quota, you will be eligible for the CCB discount on public holidays. We can offer you a make up day in the same week based on availability, however this cannot be guaranteed.
Do I still need to pay for a scheduled day if my child is sick?
Yes, Veronica Street Children’s Centre needs to charge for sick days to cover operating costs. This is standard practice across the industry, but we’ll try to arrange a make-up or swap day if we can. The Child Care Benefit will cover up to 42 absence days a year with no documentation and unlimited sick days if you’re able to provide a medical certificate or similar.
What happens when we go on holidays?
Normal fees apply for all absences (including Public Holidays) that fall on a usual day of attendance unless the family provides written consent two weeks in advance to be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on the gap fee. Holiday discount is available for up to four weeks of care per financial year. Under exceptional circumstances, holiday discount may be applied outside these requirements at the discretion of the Centre Director. Fee payments must be up to date to receive holiday discount.
What government rebates and benefits are available to families?
There are two main subsidies offered by the Australian Government for which you may be eligible. These are the Child Care Rebate (CCR) and the Child Care Benefit (CCB). Just speak to Centrelink to find out if you are eligible for either of these subsidies and to what amount.
What is the Child Care Benefit (CCB)?
The CCB is a payment provided by the Australian Government that covers 24-50 hours of childcare per week. Eligible parents or guardians must:
- Meet Australian residency requirements
- Be enrolled/enrolling in an approved early learning centre (Veronica Street Children’s Centre is one of these!)
- Meet child immunisation conditions.
The amount of CCB you receive varies depending on your income, type of care, amount of care, number of children in care, and whether or not you pass the work, training and study test. This last test is about whether you (or your partner) use childcare due to a work or study commitment. If you do, you could be eligible for higher CCB payments.
Find out more about the CCB. The Australian Government also has a handy online rebate calculator.
What is the Child Care Rebate (CCR)?
The CCR is an assistance program designed to help working families with the cost of childcare. The rebate covers 50 per cent of out-of-pocket expenses not covered by the CCB (up to $7,500 per year per child). In other words, it will help to bridge the gap between your total weekly fees and the amount CCB covers. You can choose to have the rebate paid directly to your child’s centre on a fortnightly basis, reducing your fortnightly fees. Or you can choose to have the rebate paid as a lump sum quarterly into your bank account. If you have a child in an approved centre (such as Time 4 Tots), are eligible for the CCB, and have passed the work, training, and study test, you’ll be eligible for the Child Care Rebate. There is no means test for the rebate. Find out more about the CCR. The Australian Government also has an online subsidy calculator.
Do I need to pack sunscreen?
No, Veronica Street Children’s Centre provides child-safe sunscreen as we are committed to being a sunsafe organisation. However, if your child has sensitive skin, please feel free to pack your own preferred brand.
What else should I pack in my child’s bag?
Veronica Street Children’s Centre provides an enrolment pack to each child enrolled at our service. This includes a back pack, t-shirt and sun hat. It’s always a good idea to pack a spare change of clothes and sometimes accidents happens and also, play can sometimes get messy! And above all, make sure everything you pack is clearly labelled!