Kindergarten and Preschool Treendale

To enroll your child in childcare in Australia, you’ll need to first apply for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) through Services Australia. Then, you’ll complete the enrolment process with us, providing necessary information like your and your child’s Customer Reference Numbers(CRNs), immunisation records, and other relevant details. Finally, you’ll confirm the enrolment through your Centrelink account. 

Please see the steps below for a more detailed breakdown:

1. Apply for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS):

• Claim CCS: First, you need to apply for the CCS through Services Australia. You can do this online through your myGov account. 

• CRNs: You’ll need your and your child’s Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) to complete the CCS claim. If you don’t have them, you can find them on concession cards, through your myGov account, or by contacting Services Australia. 

• Proof of Identity: You may need to provide proof of identity to Services Australia, and this can usually be done through your myGov account. 

2. Enrol in Brilliant Beginning:

Enrolment Form: We will provide you with an enrolment form to complete, and gather information about you and your child.

Gather Necessary Documents: You’ll need to provide various documents, including:

• Child’s birth certificate or passport. 

• Immunisation history statement. You can access this through your MyGov account. 

• Emergency contact details. 

• Any relevant medical information about your child. 

• Your and your child’s CRNs. 

• Details of any court orders related to your child. 

3. Confirm Enrolment:

• Provider Submission: We will submit an enrolment notice to Services Australia. 

• Confirmation: You’ll need to confirm the enrolment through your Centrelink account. 

• Finalisation: Once confirmed, your enrolment is complete, and you can start arranging for your child’s first day at Brilliant Beginnings Childcare. 

4. Consider CCS Approval Time:

• CCS Processing: It can take up to six weeks to get CCS approved.

• Timing: It’s best to apply for CCS early to ensure your subsidy is in place before your child’s first day. 

5. Additional Tips:

• Orientation: We kindly ask you allow time for a ‘stay and play’ orientation so you and your child can become familiar with the environment. 

• Waitlists: We are a small service so if the placement you require is full, you can be placed on a waitlist. 

• Flexibility: We ask that families consider being flexible with preferred days or start date to increase your chances of securing a spot.

Please see our current fee schedule and additional information and links for a detailed breakdown. Visit Fees & Pricing

We certainly do! Well-fed children are happy children – especially when it comes to learning and growing! At Brilliant Beginnings Childcare we know that well-fed children are better equipped to concentrate and have the energy to take on physical and mental challenges. That’s why we’ve carefully designed a 4-week rotating seasonal menu that caters to different dietary requirements and allergies, ensuring every child is nourished and included.

Our meals are diverse and provide both new taste experiences and familiar dishes and feature a variety of cuisines, including Mexican, Italian, Indian, and classic Australian dishes. Plus, we’re flexible – adjusting our menu based on children’s needs and preferences, making mealtimes a delicious social experience.

Studies show that proper nutrition has a direct impact on brain function. In fact, children who consume balanced meals rich in vitamins, minerals, and proteins perform better both academically and socially. Foods with high nutritional value actually have the power to enhance memory, concentration, and problem-solving abilities, which are essential for our early learners.

Meals at Brilliant Beginnings Childcare play an important role in your child’s day. By providing our children with wholesome meals, we set the foundation for a successful day. Mealtimes are also great opportunities for social interaction, fostering conversation and engagement as children eat together and with our educators!

Most families, but not all, in Australia are eligible for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS). To be eligible, families need to meet certain criteria including residency and immunisation requirements, and the child must be 13 or under. Additionally, families need to use an approved child care service and be responsible for paying the child care fees. There are also income and activity tests that determine the amount of CCS a family receives. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Residency: At least one parent or guardian must meet the residency requirements. 

• Immunisation: The child must meet the immunisation requirements. 

• Approved Child Care: The child must be enrolled and attending an approved child care service. 

• Fee Responsibility: The parent or guardian must be responsible for paying the child care fees. 

• Activity Test: Families need to be undertaking recognised activities (like work, study, or volunteering) to be eligible for CCS. 

• Income Test: The amount of CCS a family receives is also affected by their combined family income.

After claiming the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), your fees will be reduced by the subsidy amount, and you will pay the remaining “gap fee”. The CCS is paid directly to Brilliant Beginnings Childcare as your child care provider to reduce your fees, and the gap fee is the difference between our fees and the subsidy amount. 

CCS Percentage: Services Australia determines your CCS percentage based on your family’s income. 

Hourly Rate Caps: The CCS percentage is applied to either your child care provider’s hourly fee or the relevant hourly rate cap, whichever is lower. 

Gap Fee: You pay the remaining cost, which is the difference between the provider’s fee (or the hourly rate cap) and the amount covered by the CCS. 

Withholding: Services Australia automatically withholds 5% of your CCS to reduce the risk of overpayments. You can adjust this percentage (up to twice a year) if needed. 

Potential Debt: If your income changes or your estimate was inaccurate, you may receive a debt when Services Australia balances your CCS, says Services Australia. 

Managing Fees: You can manage your CCS and fees through your myGov account or by contacting Services Australia.

Families with multiple children in childcare in Australia can receive a higher Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for their younger children. The higher CCS rate is applied to the second and younger children in a family, while the eldest child typically receives the standard CCS rate. This means families can potentially save more on childcare costs when multiple children are enrolled. 

• Higher CCS for Younger Children: The Australian government provides a higher CCS rate for families with multiple children in care to help reduce the cost of childcare for younger siblings. 

• Standard CCS for Eldest Child: The eldest child in the family usually receives the standard CCS rate, which is based on the family’s income and activity level. 

• Determining Higher Rate: Services Australia determines which child receives the higher CCS rate, usually the second and any younger children. 

• Examples: A family with two children under 5, one aged 3 and one aged 5, will receive a higher CCS rate for the 3-year-old, while the 5-year-old receives the standard CCS rate. 

In a combined family, where each parent has children from previous relationships, the same principle applies. The eldest child in the combined family (based on age) receives the standard rate, while younger children in the family are assessed for the higher CCS rate. 

Combined Families: Services Australia states that when assessing combined families, all CCS-eligible children in the family are considered when determining the higher subsidy for second and younger children. 

Exceptions: In-Home Care (IHC) sessions do not qualify for the higher subsidy, as IHC is subsidised per family, not per child.