ENROLMENT FORM
Important: Enrolling Parent Details for Child Care Subsidy(CCS)
Please ensure that the parent or guardian listed as the “Enrolling Parent” on your enrolment form:
- Holds or is applying for a Centrelink Customer Reference Number(CRN)
- Is the individual linked to the child through Centrelink and has submitted the CCS application
- Provides their date of birth(DOB), as it is mandatory for processing
- Helpful Resources on Child Care Subsidy(CCS) and Centrelink Customer Reference Numbers(CRNs), please refer to the following official resources:
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/assistance-with-child-care-fees
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/subjects/centrelink-customer-reference-number-crn
CHILD CARE SUBSIDY
The Commonwealth Government provides financial assistance for eligible parents utilizing childcare. Child Care Subsidy (CCS) can be arranged through Centrelink online.
Please contact the CHILD CARE ACCESS HOTLINE on 1800 670 305 (FREECALL) for further information
These can only be paid if YOU have given us:
o Your CRN
o Your Child’s CRN
o Your birthday
o Your Child’s birthday
o AND you have applied for CCS with Centrelink.
The CRN’s are not provided to us by any government department.
It is these details that will release your childcare data from our billing program to Centrelink.
REGISTRATION for “Childcare Subsidy” (CCS)
You must register each child for CCS with Centrelink.
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy
CRNs
CRN’s issued by Centrelink MUST be given to the centre if you want to receive any government childcare rebates or subsidies. Childcare information cannot be released to Centrelink without them.
BOND
A refundable bond of $500.00 will be charged to your account upon commencement. This bond will be fully refunded to you when your child leaves the centre. Any closing credit that we owe you will be repaid to you.
BILLING INFORMATION
Invoices
Issuing:
- Invoices are issued every week, usually on the Wednesday/Thursday.
o They will be emailed to the address provided on your enrolment form.
o Please notify us if you prefer another email address for invoices.
o Please identify your current closing balance/amount owing from the bottom right of the invoice.
Description of invoice:
- One invoice issued for each week ending Sunday.
- Dates for the period covered are in the top left of the invoice. (Monday – Sunday)
- Please check the “Booking Details” at the bottom for the week’s charges.
- Check the sessions invoiced and notify the office immediately if there appears to be a problem.
- Data is exchanged daily with Canberra and alterations that effect CCS can be involved.
- The total of these charges is shown at “Child Care Fees”, below the opening balance.
- Any government payments will show under “Subsidies”.
- Any payment received during that invoice billing period will show under “Receipts & Payments”.
PLEASE NOTE: Any bank transfer made on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday may not appear on our bank statement until the following Monday. This means it will not appear on the invoice covering the period/day that you paid. It will be receipted on Monday and will therefore appear on next week’s invoice.
Payment
Terms of payment:
- Terms are payment on receipt of invoice.
- Please arrange payment of the most recent closing balance upon receipt of each weekly or fortnightly statement.
- We are a “Not for profit community” based Centre with no external funding and must meet our financial commitments as they fall due. We appreciate your attention to maintaining regular payments.
Method of payment:
- Only by bank transfer. We do not have EFTPOS or credit card facilities as these incur bank charges.
- The centre’s bank details are on the top right of the invoice.
- Bank transfer reference: To help us identify your payment, please start your payment reference with your surname or account name as it appears at the top of your invoice. Please note that bank statements may truncate longer references, so placing this information at the beginning helps us match your payment promptly.
- Receipt details are printed on the invoice.
For any enquires related to accounts, please email: accounts@fmcchildcare.com
ALLOWABLE ABSENCES
If your child will be absent from child care, it’s essential to inform us as soon as possible. Accurate attendance records are crucial for processing your CCS correctly. Without timely notification, we may be unable to record the absence appropriately, which could affect your CCS payments.
How many absences you can get
You can get up to 42 allowable absence days per child each financial year.
If you reach your allowable absence limit, you may be able to get additional absences. You may get additional absences if any of these apply:
- your child is ill
- your child’s carer or their partner or another person your child lives with is ill
- your child is attending preschool
- alternative arrangements have been made for your child on a pupil-free day
- your child hasn’t been immunised against an infectious disease and the absence occurs during an immunisation grace period
- your child is spending time with a person other than their usual carer as required by a court order or parenting plan
- your child’s child care service is closed because of an event for which a CCS period of emergency has been declared
- your child can’t attend because of an event for which a CCS period of emergency has been declared
- your child’s carer chooses not to send the child because of an event for which a CCS period of emergency has been declared.
When you can use absences
You can only use absence days for days your child would normally attend care and get CCS. This includes public holidays.
You can use absence days for any reason, including if the child is on a holiday. You don’t need to provide evidence for any absences you use under the allowable absence limit.
Tracking your absences
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can track your absences online.
To do this:
- Sign in to myGov.
- Select Child Care from the My Family menu.
- Select Absences.
You can also use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app. Select your child’s name from the Child Care Subsidy menu option, then Absences.
When you can use absence days before your child attends care or after their last day of attendance
Centrelink generally won’t pay CCS for any absences before your child physically attends or after the last day your child physically attends care. You’ll need to pay full fees for these days.
However if you have an approved reason, Centrelink will pay CCS for absences that occur within 7 days at the start or the end of an enrolment. This includes their first or last day.
Approved reasons include any of these:
- any of the additional absence reasons on the Department of Education website
- your child’s child care service has changed ownership
- your child’s usual child care service is closed and the child attends a different service under the same child care provider
- your child’s enrolment ceased incorrectly
- you’ve experienced a family tragedy.
If your child hasn’t attended child care for 14 weeks in a row, both of the following will apply:
- your enrolment with the child care service will end
- Centrelink won’t pay for any absences after the last day your child physically attended care.
Read more about what happens if we end your enrolment.