Australian Government
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
Information for families using child care: Fact Sheet 5 
What is registered child care?
Child Care Benefit (CCB) is a payment from the Australian Government to reduce child care fees for families using either approved or registered child care. Working families using registered care are entitled to CCB.
What is registered child care?
It is child care provided by grandparents or other relatives, friends or nannies who are registered as carers with the Australian Government’s Family Assistance Office. 
You and your partner need to be working or looking for work, training, or studying to get registered care. There are some exemptions. 
Can anyone else provide registered child care?
Yes. It may also be provided by individuals in:
•	preschools
•	kindergartens 
•	some outside school hours care services 
•	some occasional care centres. 
Carers or teachers in these services must be registered with the Family Assistance Office. All registered carers must comply with any relevant state or territory child care laws.
Registered carers are not considered approved child care services by the Australian Government because they do not, or choose not to, meet the minimum operating hours or participate in the Australian Government’s quality assurance systems.
Can I get Child Care Benefit (CCB) if I use registered care?
Yes, if you are eligible and you and your partner meet the work, training, study test or have an exemption.
To receive CCB, however, your carer must be registered with the Family Assistance Office.
Can I get the Child Care Rebate (CCR) if I use registered care?
No, you must use approved child care to meet the CCR eligibility requirements.
How much CCB do I get for registered care?
With registered care, you can get the registered care rate for a maximum of 50 hours of care per child per week. Your family’s income does not affect the amount you can get.

	2011-2012	
Hourly rate for a non-school child	$0.632	
Maximum rate of CCB for 50 hours of care per week for each child	$31.60	
Note: The registered care rate for a school child is 85 per cent of the rate for a non-school child.
How do I meet the work, training, study test for registered care? 
For registered care you and your partner only have to participate in work, training or study related commitments at some time during a week or have an exemption. No minimum number of hours is required.
How do I get CCB for registered care?
To get your CCB, take your child care receipts (given to you by your registered carer) to the Family Assistance Office and complete the Claim for Child Care Benefit for registered care form (FA018). The Government will pay your CCB into your bank account after you submit a claim. 
Your carer cannot receive CCB on your behalf.
You must claim your CCB within 12 months from when the care was provided.
If you use a combination of approved care and registered care you need to claim CCB separately for each type of care.
How do I become a registered carer for CCB purposes?
To become a registered carer you need to:
•	apply to the Family Assistance Office
•	meet the minimum age requirement, or have a qualification that otherwise determines eligibility for approval as a registered carer. This includes evidence of a recognised qualification as follows: 
1.	nanny
2.	child care or
3.	home-based help
•	have a Tax File Number
•	meet and maintain any relevant State or Territory licensing requirements, and restrictions on becoming a registered carer and
•	any other requirements required by the Minister of the department.

How can I get more information?

For further information on your eligibility for CCB and CCR please contact the Family Assistance Office:

•	Access online services at www.familyassist.gov.au
•	Call 13 61 50 between 8am and 8pm (local time) Monday to Friday
•	Email through www.familyassist.gov.au
•	Visit a Family Assistance Office (located in Medicare Offices, and Centrelink Customer Service Centres.).

Useful resources

For news and information on child care visit the mychild website available at www.mychild.gov.au 
Centrelink/Family Assistance/Child Support/Child Care Estimator at www.familyassist.gov.au Family Assistance, The What, Why and How booklet, available at www.familyassist.gov.au
Family Assistance Office Guide to Payments fact sheet, available at www.familyassist.gov.au

If you need to, you can also call:

•	Teletypewriter (TTY) 1800 810 586 (if you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment). You need a TTY phone to use this service.
•	13 12 02 if you need information in a language other than English.