Hi there,

I am new to this so not sure if I am posting this in the correct place. My family and I are moving to Ballarat in Jan 2013 as I have been offered a job. My son will be starting school which seems to be sorted, however, my daughter who will be almost 2 at the time will need a nursery. I have read about certain benefits and help you get with this. Can anyone help?? We are going on a permanent visa, thanks

Contact immigration on www.immi.gov.au it will give u a number to call there

What on earth has DIAC got to do with childcare? To the OP, please don't contact DIAC, they're not very helpful when it's about Migration let alone a Benefit issue.

As far as I'm aware you are unable to claim most benefits until you have been resident for two years but have a look at the Centrelink website.

You can claim for childcare benefit as soon as you start working there is no need to wait two years for childcare benefit (CCB) . You will need to contact Family assistance office when you get here, they will give you a CRN number which you give to childcare and it will depend on your income as to how much assistance you get for childcare.

CCB is indeed means-tested. The Childcare Rebate isn't but is subject to both parents (if there are two) satisfying the work/study/volunteering test. Both parents must be engaged in work, studying or volunteering for at least 30 hours over a fortnight to get 50% of the childcare fees (gap fee if eligible for CCB) refunded by Family Assistance, up to $7,500/year/child.

I contacted them regarding this and they where very helpful ! Must be the individual that they are dealing with or the person that you get on the phone at diac.

They aren't the right people to contact though, and their info cannot be relied upon as they are NOT the service providers. DIAC are for visas and immigration. For benefits one needs to contact Centrelink.

Just to add to this the work/training/study test above is in theory for CCB rather than CCR. Also you can claim up to 24 hours CCB a week without needing to meet the work/training/study test.

For CCR the work/training/study test has no minimum in itself. You just must undertake some work/training/study. The kicker is that you must also qualify for CCB to get CCR even if you get no CCB as your income is too high (ie you must meet the other CCB requirements). I think this would mean the two different work/training/study tests from the CCB would apply to CCR by proxy - which one would depend on whether your hours were under 24 or not. How clear is that

As usual with Centrelink, clear as mud
I was trying to keep it simple but then fish.01 has to come along ...

I think I actually confused myself as well

Hi,

Im about 10 mins from Ballarat, so feel free to PM me any questions about the local area, cant help much with the centrelink side of things. I have a 3yo and a 1 yo. x

None of the above is available to you if you are coming on a temporary visa by the way.