Guide
Working Parents Guide to Childcare in Australia
Balancing work and childcare is one of the biggest challenges Australian families face. This guide covers everything from parental leave entitlements to maximising your subsidies and handling those inevitable sick days.
Parental Leave in Australia
Understanding your parental leave options helps you plan when to start childcare and how to manage the transition back to work.
Government Paid Parental Leave
The Australian Government provides Paid Parental Leave (PPL) for eligible parents. As of July 2024, this is up to 22 weeks paid at the national minimum wage (~$915/week before tax). This is increasing to 26 weeks by July 2026.
- Available to birth parents, adoptive parents, and eligible partners
- Both parents can share the entitlement
- Must have worked at least 330 hours in 10 of the 13 months before birth/adoption
- Family income test: less than $195,387 combined in the previous financial year
Employer Parental Leave
Many employers offer additional paid parental leave on top of the government scheme. Check your enterprise agreement or employment contract.
- Some employers offer 12–18 weeks additional paid leave
- Employer leave can usually be taken alongside government PPL
- You're entitled to 12 months unpaid parental leave under the National Employment Standards (NES), plus a right to request an additional 12 months
Superannuation on PPL
From 1 July 2025, the government will pay superannuation on government-funded PPL at the standard rate (currently 12%). This is a new change that benefits parents who take time out of the workforce.
Returning to Work
Planning your return to work early gives you the best chance of a smooth transition for both you and your child.
Register for childcare during pregnancy if possible. Popular centres have 12+ month waitlists, especially for under-2 places. Apply to 5–10 centres. See our waitlist guide.
Follow up with centres on your waitlist position. Discuss your return-to-work plans with your employer — you may be able to negotiate flexible hours, remote work, or a phased return.
Most centres offer orientation visits where you and your child spend time at the centre together. Start with short sessions and gradually increase. This settling-in period is important.
Make sure your Child Care Subsidy is set up through myGov/Centrelink. Confirm your activity level and income estimate. Your childcare provider needs your CRN (Customer Reference Number).
It's normal for children (and parents) to find the first few weeks difficult. Most children settle within 2–4 weeks. Talk to the educators about how your child is adjusting.
Juggling Work and Childcare Schedules
Making work and childcare logistics work requires planning and flexibility. Here are strategies that real Australian families use.
Flexible Work Arrangements
Since 2023, all employees have the right to request flexible working arrangements if they have a child under school age (or under 18 with a disability). Employers can only refuse on reasonable business grounds.
Options include: compressed work weeks, adjusted start/finish times, working from home, part-time hours, or job sharing.
Stagger Drop-off and Pick-up
If both parents work, consider splitting drop-off and pick-up duties. One parent does the early drop-off while the other handles pick-up. This allows one parent to start work early and the other to finish earlier.
Use a Mix of Care
Many families combine formal childcare with informal care from grandparents, friends, or neighbours. For example, 3 days in long day care and 1 day with grandparents can reduce costs and give your child variety.
Build in Buffer Time
Childcare centres have strict pick-up times — late fees can be $1/minute or more. Build a 15–20 minute buffer into your schedule. Have a backup person authorised for emergency pick-ups.
When Childcare Falls Through
Every working parent dreads the morning phone call: your child is sick, the centre is closed, or your carer is unavailable. Having a backup plan is essential.
Full-time employees get 10 days paid personal/carer's leave per year. You can use this when your child is sick. Part-time employees get a pro-rata amount.
If your job allows it, WFH with a mildly unwell child can work for a day — though it's not ideal for productivity. Be honest with your employer about the situation.
Build a network of people who can help at short notice: grandparents, trusted friends, neighbours, or a local nanny agency that offers emergency bookings.
Occasional care centres can sometimes accommodate last-minute bookings. Some areas also have emergency nanny services — register with one before you need it.
If both parents work, take turns staying home when the child is sick. Keeping a shared calendar helps track who's used their leave and whose turn it is.
Tax and Subsidy Maximisation Tips
Getting the most out of the tax system and childcare subsidies can save your family thousands each year.
Get Your Income Estimate Right
Your CCS is based on your estimated family income. If you overestimate, you'll get less subsidy during the year. If you underestimate, you'll have a debt at tax time. Update your estimate via myGov if your circumstances change (e.g. parental leave, pay rise, reduced hours).
Salary Sacrifice
Salary sacrificing into super reduces your assessable income, which could increase your CCS rate. However, the rules are complex — the ATO may count some sacrificed amounts. Seek advice from a tax professional.
Activity Test Planning
If one parent is studying, volunteering, or looking for work, these all count towards the activity test. Even 8 hours per fortnight gives you access to subsidised hours. See our costs guide for the full activity test table.
Multiple Children Discount
If you have more than one child aged 5 or under in care, your CCS rate increases by up to 30 percentage points for the second and subsequent children. This is applied automatically — you don't need to apply separately.
Looking After Yourself
The juggle of work and parenting is genuinely hard. It's important to acknowledge that and look after your own wellbeing.
- Let go of guilt — Research consistently shows that quality childcare supports children's development. Your child is learning social skills, resilience, and independence.
- Set boundaries at work — Leaving on time to pick up your child is not something to apologise for. Most employers understand.
- Connect with other parents — Your childcare centre community is a great place to build friendships with parents going through the same thing.
- Use your support network — Accept help when it's offered. Grandparents, friends, and neighbours can make a huge difference.
- Seek help if you're struggling — Post-natal depression and anxiety can emerge when returning to work. Talk to your GP, call PANDA (1300 726 306), or contact Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636).