Thanks for all your help ladies.... I'm not sure why it's so expensive, it's food and nappies included. All the daycares he was on waiting lists for were roughly the same price.

Wow why.so expensive, I have never known a centre to b.so much...

I get no benefit (our combined income is too high) and 50% rebate each quarter. I believe we are all entitled to the rebate but the benefit varies depending on income.

Your childcare centre can tell you exactly how much it would cost you (out of pocket). All they need is your number from centerlink.

Thanks for asking this! As I have been stressing about it myself. It's soooo expensive

My sister walks for family assistance. They are open to 8pm at night and it's real quiet and easy to get through then as not many people know its open that late. Give them a ring tonight :)

The child care rebate and benefit are two separate things. Everyone gets the childcare rebate, not means tested but you have to qualify by being at work/training/leave. The childcare rebate reduces your cost by 50% and you can claim it to be paid back to you quarterly or monthly or as a reduced fee to the centre. Therefore, if you qualify by working etc you should only be out of pocket just under $50 a day.

The childcare benefit is means tested and if you qualify means you would pay a reduced rate to the centre. This is on top of the rebate I think. Sorry don't know much more about the benefit.

Hope that helps a little.

Oh great easy thanks ?

Go onto the centrelink website. They have a calculator and estimation tool. It's quite easy.