Planning childcare costs should not be a guessing game—it is important to know exactly what to expect upfront. At Ferntree Gully Children’s Centre, understanding childcare fees is integral to choosing the right early learning environment for your family. Our fees are structured to be transparent, with government subsidies applied directly where eligible, helping families plan and manage their childcare costs more effectively.
This page outlines daily fees, what is included, and how the Australian Government’s Child Care Subsidy (CCS) may reduce the amount you pay. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll learn: understand our transparent fee structure, discover what’s included in the daily rate, and see how the CCS can significantly lower your childcare expenses. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll learn: understand our transparent fee structure, discover what’s included in the daily rate, and see how the CCS can significantly lower your childcare expenses.
The current daily fee at Ferntree Gully Children’s Centre is:
$158.50 per day
This fee applies to long-day care and includes the core elements of care, education, and daily essentials provided throughout your child’s day.
Families often ask what is covered within the daily rate. At Ferntree Gully Children’s Centre, the daily fee includes:
This all-inclusive approach is designed to simplify daily planning for families while supporting children’s learning, well-being, and development.
The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is a help in paying your fees provided by the Australian Government to make childcare more affordable for families.
Instead of paying the full childcare fee, eligible families receive a subsidy that is paid directly to the childcare service. Families then pay the remaining balance, often referred to as the gap fee.
Most families may be eligible for CCS if they:
Eligibility and subsidy levels are assessed through Centrelink via myGov.
The amount of Child Care Subsidy a family receives depends on three key factors:
Families on lower incomes may receive a higher subsidy, with some families eligible for up to 90% of fees subsidised.
The number of hours parents work, study, train, or volunteer each fortnight determines how many hours of subsidised care they may use.
The government subsidises childcare fees up to a set hourly cap. If a service charges above this cap, families pay the difference.
As a general example:
A family earning around $80,000 per year may receive a high subsidy percentage. If daily childcare fees were $158.50, a significant portion may be subsidised, allowing the family to pay as little as $25 per day.
The family would then pay only the remaining gap fee. Actual amounts vary based on individual circumstances.
Families may use the official Child Care Subsidy Calculator provided by Starting Blocks to estimate out-of-pocket costs:
This tool provides an estimate only and does not replace Centrelink assessments.
Applying for CCS typically involves: Applying to myGov / Centrelink
Once approved, CCS is applied automatically to your childcare fees.
Ferntree Gully Children’s Centre offers funded kindergarten programs within a long-day care setting. Government funding for kindergarten may further reduce costs for eligible families, depending on enrolment and attendance arrangements.
Families are encouraged to discuss their child’s age, program eligibility, and fee structure directly with the centre.
Every family’s situation is different. The team at Ferntree Gully Children’s Centre is happy to talk through:
Booking a tour is often the best way to understand how the centre operates and whether it feels right for your child.
