Early childhood education when you’re overseas

Calculating the hours:

You drop your child off at 7:45 am and return to pick up your child by 2:15pm.  

You’re eligible for 7 hours of assistance, broken down as:  

• from 8am – 2pm = 6 full hours  
• plus 15 minutes either side = 30 min, rounded up to the nearest full hour = 1.  

You’re an unaccompanied member, your regular pattern of work is 5 days per week, and you have a child who attends the benchmark early childhood education facility for 10 hours a day. The benchmark fees for your location are $46,000 a year. Your contribution is $14,861 a year. 

The rate of assistance is $12 an hour. This is calculated by:

1. Annual contribution is $31,139 a year ($46,000 − $14,861).
2. $31,139 ÷ 52 = $598.83 ÷ 50 = $11.97
3. $11.97 rounded to the nearest dollar = $12

If the early childhood education facility your child attends costs more than the benchmark facility, you do not get a higher rate of assistance.

You're an accompanied member. Your regular pattern of work is 5 days per week, and your partner’s regular pattern of work or study is 3 days per week. Your child attends a centre-based early childhood education facility for 10 hours a day. The benchmark fees for your location are $46,000 a year. Your contribution is $20,665 a year.

You'll get a benefit for the 3 days your partner is working. The rate of assistance is $10 an hour for 3 days a week. This is calculated by:

1. Annual contribution for 5 full days is $25,335 a year ($46,000 − $20,665).
2. The hourly rate is $9.74 ($25,335 ÷ 52 = $487.21 ÷ 50 = $9.74).
3. $9.74 rounded to the nearest dollar = $10.