Child Care Subsidy Calculator

This Child Care Subsidy Calculator (CCS Calculator) is developed for Australian parents to estimate their possible Child Care Subsidy payment amount from the Australian Government and out-of-pocket child care costs when using Centre Based Day Care, Family Day Care or Outside School Hours Care. For In Home Care Child Care Subsidy estimation please use the In Home Care Child Care Subsidy Calculator.

Aiming to help parents understand some very important questions about the new Child Care Subsidy such as “How much childcare subsidy do I get” and “How is child care subsidy calculated”, this CCS Calculator is based on the publicly available guidelines and publications about Child Care Subsidy that can be found in the Child Care Subsidy Guide by the Department of Education and Training, Australian Government. The Child Care Subsidy rates that take effect on 12 July 2021 for Financial Year 2022 (FY22) are being used. However, the results from this childcare subsidy calculator are only indicative and informative. The estimation of your childcare subsidy will be based on the information you provide. If any information provided is inaccurate, the estimation could be incorrect.

This Calculator could generate inaccurate results in particular cases, for example, the Calculator does not take into account:

if you are repaying any money to Centrelink, or have had your payment reduced, or;
the assets test, or;
if you are paid under a Social Security Agreement, or;
if you are overseas.

Sun protection for babies and children

Babies and children are at particular risk of sunburn and skin damage because of their delicate skin. Exposure to UV radiation during the first 15 years of life greatly increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

Your child’s sensitive skin is especially vulnerable to UV radiation. Cancer Council NSW recommends that children under the age of 12 months are not exposed to direct sunlight when UV levels are 3 and above. You can check your local UV levels and the recommended sun protection times (when UV levels are 3 and above) using the free SunSmart app or weather section of most newspapers.

Protect your child’s skin by

Cover as much of your children’s skin as possible with loose-fitting clothes made from tightly-woven fabrics.
Slap on a broad brim, bucket or legionnaire style hat that protects the face, ears and back of the neck. Hats are available for babies that crumple easily when they put their head down.
Provide shade for prams and strollers.
Plan the day’s activities to reduce your children’s exposure to the sun, especially between 10am and 2pm (11am and 3pm in daylight saving time).
Stay in the shade as much as possible. Even in the shade, use other forms of sun protection to reduce exposure from reflected UV radiation from surfaces such as sand or concrete.
Apply SPF30+ or higher, broad-spectrum and water-resistant sunscreen on any exposed areas of skin.

Using sunscreen on babies and children

Cancer Council recommends protecting babies and children’s skin with physical barriers such as wraps, clothing, hats and using shade as much as possible. If your baby or child is going to be exposed to the sun, apply sunscreen to those small areas of skin not covered by wraps, clothing and a hat.

Babies aged under 6 months have highly absorptive skin and the Australasian College of Dermatologist recommends minimising use of sunscreen. Always usage test any product first on a small area of your baby or child’s skin for any negative reactions and apply sunscreen to those areas of exposed skin that can’t be covered with hats and clothing. If your baby or child reacts to sunscreen, seek advice from your doctor or chemist.

National SunSmart Schools Program

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation damage accumulated during childhood and adolescence is strongly associated with an increased risk of skin cancer later in life. Australia has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world, with two in three Australians developing some form of skin cancer before age 70.

Skin cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.

Students are in school when daily ultraviolet (UV) radiation levels are at their peak, meaning schools are uniquely placed to educate about sun protection behaviour, minimise UVR exposure and ultimately reduce a student’s lifetime risk of skin cancer. All Australian primary schools are encouraged to join the nationally recognised SunSmart Schools program.

SunSmart membership assists schools meet their duty of care requirements in sun protection and occupational health and safety (OHS) obligations in UV risk reduction for staff.

Cancer Council launched the National SunSmart Schools program in 1998. Today it is offered to all primary schools nationwide, and is also offered to K-10/12, secondary and special schools in some states.

In order to receive SunSmart status and recognition, primary schools must:

Have a written sun protection policy meeting minimum standards relating to sun protective behaviours, environment and curriculum
Reschedule/minimise outdoor activities in direct sun during peak UV periods of the year
Teach, model and reinforce positive sun protection behaviour
Agree to complete regular policy reviews with the relevant state or territory Cancer Council to ensure their policy meets current guidelines and recommendations.