One: Search, compare and connect with childcare services on Care for Kids
Care for Kids brings all the childcare services of Australia together in one convenient place. Whether you need care now or later, Care for Kids provides the tools to support parents at every stage of their family’s journey to commencing childcare.
Let’s get started!
- To begin, type your home or work suburb/postcode into the search bar to bring up the list of great childcare options nearby.
- Scroll down to view images and key information for each service or click map view to see services’ locations plotted on the map.
- Click on the childcare centre names to read reviews and find out more about their programs, educators, facilities and inclusions.
- Click “save” to add your favourite services to your shortlist (you’ll be prompted to set up a Care for Kids parent account to help you stay organised - keep all your shortlisted services and communications with providers saved in the one place!)
Take action!
- Click “call” to speak directly with the service provider.
- Click “enquire” to send a direct message straight to the service provider’s inbox.
- Click “book in person tour” to instantly book a visit to the centre. Pro tip: It’s always best to experience a childcare service first hand. Take the Care for Kids Tour Checklist with you so you know what questions to ask and what to look out for
Download our Tour checklist that has all the questions to consider when touring a service so you don’t miss a thing. Download, print and fill out for an easy comparison of your top childcare choices!
Enrolling in a Childcare Service: What Happens Next?
Long daycare vs Family day care: What are the key differences?
Two: Estimate your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) with the Care for Kids CCS calculator
Let Care for Kids do the maths for you!
Every family’s circumstances are different and this couldn’t be more important when it comes to how Centrelink assesses your eligibility for Child Care Subsidy (CCS). The Care for Kids CCS calculator is designed to make estimating your out of pocket child care expenses a lot simpler.
The daily fees listed on Care for Kids service listings are the full daily costs, prior to subsidy being applied. Just enter the full fee into the CCS calculator, add a few details about your personal and family situation, and you'll get an estimate of your out-of-pocket costs for care at that service – it's that easy!
How Do I Calculate the Child Care Subsidy?
What do you need to qualify for childcare assistance?
Three: Find or apply for your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)
Let Care for Kids help you get organised online
Your CRN
Your CRN is your unique identification number that Centrelink uses to recognise you, your family or household members and all your interactions with Government services in Australia. Both parents/carers and your child will need individual CRNs to apply for the Child Care Subsidy through Centrelink. Early learning services typically require all CRNs to complete your child's enrolment.
Your CRN remains the same for life and there’s a good chance you'll already have one, especially if you’ve ever accessed any Government financial assistance.
If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to create a myGov account and link Centrelink to your myGov account. You can then apply for a CRN.
If you already have a CRN then just sign in to your online myGov account to find the number, it will be listed in your linked Centrelink account.
Children’s CRNs
If you have previously submitted claims to Centrelink for child/family related financial assistance (Eg. Family Tax Benefit or Paid Parental Leave), your child will already have a CRN.
To find it, sign into myGov and select Centrelink from your linked services.
How to get a CRN for your new baby
You will only be able to obtain a CRN for your baby after they are born.
You must first register your baby’s birth with the Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages. This must be done within 60 days of your child being born and there is no fee to register.
A CRN will be generated for your child by Centrelink when you finalise or submit your first child-related claim for financial assistance.
When completing a claim, you will be prompted to add your baby’s details and give proof of their birth - you’ll need to upload a copy of your child’s Newborn Child Declaration* form, including the last “proof of birth” page which will have been signed by your doctor or midwife upon your child’s birth.
Once you have completed your baby’s details along with all other required information, you can submit your claim. When Centrelink processes your claim, they will create a CRN for your baby.
Then to view your baby’s CRN, you can sign in to myGov and select Centrelink from your linked services.
*At the birth of your baby, you’ll receive a “Parent Pack” from your hospital or birth care provider. This will include the Newborn Child Declaration form. Be sure to keep this document somewhere safe, as you’ll need to provide it as “proof of birth” when registering your baby’s birth and submitting claims to Centrelink.
Get Ahead Before Baby: Setting Up MyGov, Medicare, and Centrelink Accounts
Accessing My Customer Reference Number for the Child Care Subsidy
