DhakaBoy

We will be moving to Sydney in next few months on a state-sponsored 176 visa. Reading on different threads here, I now have some rough idea about the general cost of living in Oz. However, I am yet to figure out the costs of putting my 4 year old in a preschool. What are some of the schooling options and fee ranges? Sorry if the question is too broad, but at this moment I have no further clue to be anymore specific.

LittleKittyCat

I suppose it will depend on the area you are in, but here (Sutherland Shire) I pay $70 per day for our four year old to be in pre-school. She only goes two days per week, but it certainly does eat in to the household budget.

GracieK

Round my area (St George) the community preschools are around $35-50 a day. These preschools only do 9am-3pm and they seem to have waiting lists of around 18 months!! There are long day cares/nurseries that offer preschool programs too - these are $70+ a day but take from 7.30am-6.30pm (or similarish hours). There are also some prep school preschools but these are $$$ a year and you practically have to have the bub's name on the list when they are in-utero!! Aside from preschools there is also Occasional care (around $8ph or $25ish a day) and family day care (which I believe is a bit like a childminder? no idea of costs).

Of course depending on your circumstances you can look into the child care benefit and tax rebate which will reduce the fees if you work enough hours/study to qualify etc.

DhakaBoy

Thanks a lot LittleKittyCat and GracieK!