Child care

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When you and your spouse are unable to personally look after your children you may have to use a Childcare Centre. Childcare Centres have qualified child care workers who can care for young babies up to children 6 years old. Australian law requires that children under the age of 12 must be fully supervised at all times. It is against the law to leave young children home alone.

Childcare Centres operate between 7am - 6pm very few operate outside these hours. All centres are registered with the government to ensure a minimum standard of care is maintained. Some childcare centres require you to provide milk, fruit, and other snacks for your children.

Although QUT has Childcare Centres on all campuses, spaces are very limited. The waiting period for a vacancy can be more than one year. Priority is normally given to students who are single parents.

To search for child care centres in Brisbane use the search facility in the Department of Communities website or contact the Child Care Information Service (CCIS).

Another alternative is Family Day Care, which is a home based child care where your children are cared for in private homes by people who have been registered and approved by Family Day Care. There is a limitation to the number of children one carer can look after in their home. Care is provided for children up to 12 years of age. While these carers may not have the full facilities of a centre (eg. playground, educational books, etc.) they offer flexible hours and can give more individualised attention. They may also be in your local neighbourhood. Short-term care may also be arranged depending on family circumstances.

Out of School Care

For children of school age, most schools provide a Before School Care, 7-9am, and Out of School Care or After School Care programs, 3-6pm. Childcare, and Out of School Care are all run on a fee-paying basis. Child Care fees depend on the type of care (regular or casual) and the hours attended. While costs vary between Centres, the average cost for a full day at Childcare is approximately $35. BSC cost app. $3.00 per morning and OSC $6.00 per afternoon.

There are normally long waiting lists for vacancies at most childcare centres. Most full-fee paying international students are expected to meet full child care fees for their children. Students sponsored or subsidised by the Australian Government may be eligible for child care fee relief.