2 year old?

[Eyebrow]

Hi there

I have a 2 year old.

What can i do with her in OZ?

Here she goes to a creche from 8-12.30 in the mornings. Just so that she can get out of the house and meet other children etc

What are the options in Oz (We are aiming to go to Melbourne).

And (more importantly!), what will it cost on a 457?

Thanx

[Lynnie]

On a 457 you do not qualify for any rebate wrt childcare. It is EXPENSIVE here!! You can pay anything between $65 to $100 PER DAY!!!!! I only take my little girl 3 times a week - the stimulation does her good.

There are also playgroups at the library, churches.... but hopefully you'll meet many moms with kids and you can arrange playdates in the park/beach? You can also take her for swimming classes - I'm pretty sure you could meet other moms there as well.

Good luck :ilikeit:

[C&GJBay]

I had a 3.5 year old when we arrived, he had been at playschool for a year from 8-12.30.

I can't speak for Melbourne, but here in regional Qld, I had to find a few things to keep him amused during the week.

Creche is expensive. I'm not sure about all of them, but the one around the corner from my house was $67 a DAY! No rebate (also 457), no discount for cash, no discount for half-day. Also, a lot of them have waiting lists a mile long.

So we found things to do - & there were lots of them! Luckily I was at home, but if I'd had to work, it would probably just have covered the child-care costs!

We went to story-time at the library on a Monday, there was always a craft afterwards. (FREE)

I joined the local MOPS group, which was every 2nd Tuesday. The kids are looked after in a creche & do art & playdough etc ($7)

We went to Mainly Music on a Wednesday morning, singing & dancing & then tea & fruit & more crafts ($5)

I joined the moms bible study at my church & went there every Thursday morning & all the kids just basically ran wild with each other

We went to Kindy-gym on a friday, which was the highlight of his week! ($4.50)

So, if you just looking to keep your LO occupied, you won't be short of choices.

I also met lots of people & now know most moms in town by sight at least. There were also always a fair few dads at the groups, so your hubby wouldn't feel odd.

[Eyebrow]

What is the difference between Kindie and Early education?

I am not sure I understand the Oz system for little kids...

[C&GJBay]

I'm not too sure I understand it either.

Kindy is also known as pre-prep. Prep is grade r or grade 0. So kindy is a year before formal school. They only have to accept kids for kindy if they are turning 4 by the 30th June. (In qld anyway)

I think any school before prep is called early learning. I could be wrong.

[AndreaL]

From what I understand, early learning centres are child care centres that offer an early learning curriculum according to the governments early learning framework . You might find some more info about the various day care options here http://www.mychild.gov.au/pages/ResourceFAQs.aspx

[Sibella]

In Melbourne you get 3 year old kindy followed by 4 year old kindy. This is only a few hours a week at a kindergarten but very affordable (I think it was about $400 a term 3 times per week). Then you get childcare which is full time and very expensive. You also get community centres with Occasional Childcare which costs around $7 an hour but they run only certain hours as well - before my daughter went to school I did a combination of kindy and occasional child care which worked for me but not if you are working.

Then when they are five ( they have to be 5 by the end of April but here you can keep them back a bit if they are young so my daughter turned 6 in April in the year I sent her to school) they go to big school but the first year of school is called Prep. Lots of play based learning but definitely school with Maths, reading and writing.

There are also other options like some private schools run their own kindy programme, normally every day but half day and I'm also now looking into Montessori preschool for my youngest which starts when they are 2,5 and potty trained, 1st a few mornings a week then later every day 9-12.

So you have quite a few options depending on your needs. As said before lots of activities to do with kids, music classes, swimming, playgroups, etc.

[Luke and Robs]

Does anyone know what the options are for child care rebates. We are on a permanent residence visa and will be arriving in September with our just turned 4 year old. Is it even worth working with such exorbitant kindy fees?

[Fish]

Does anyone know what the options are for child care rebates. We are on a permanent residence visa and will be arriving in September with our just turned 4 year old. Is it even worth working with such exorbitant kindy fees?

We don't find it that exorbitant. Our 3yo goes to pre-kindy 2 full days a week and it cost $75 per day. We get at least half back (no income test) so works out $37.50 per day. Low wage jobs would cover that with around 2 hours of work (after tax). Gets dearer if you use it 4-5 days a week, for example, as there is an annual cap on the rebate. If on a lower family income (< approx $120,000) you get extra money back on top of the 50%. This is in inner Brisbane.

Edited April 16, 2014 by Fish

[rikamarie]

Hi there. I work in a long day care centre and my daughter is also in a long daycare every day. It can be really expensive if you put them in 5 days a week, and also there will be a waiting list if you want them in 5 days a week, so get cracking on getting his/her name down on a waiting list. I work for Goodstart, really worth looking into, but if money is an issue, perhaps consider a playgroup. Google playgroups in the area.

If you need any other advice regarding long daycare etc. Please feel free to ask.