FAQ
1. Enrolments
1. Enrolments
1a) How do I enrol in the centre?
For instructions on how to enrol at Concord OSHC and to download an enrolment form, please follow the link: Enrolments
1b) My details are the same as last year. Do I need to provide an enrolment form?
Yes, it is important that each family submits a new enrolment form during the enrolment period as it is a requirement to have an up to date enrolment form under the National Quality Framework. (NQF) Since bookings are removed at the end of each year, it is important that you also submit a new booking form at the time of enrolment.
2. Fees
2. Fees
2a) Is there a Membership Fee?
Yes, every family at Concord OSHC is required to pay an annual membership fee when they enrol/re-enrol at the centre each year.
Please refer to our Fees & Payments page for Membership Fee information.
2b) How much are the Centre Fees?
Please refer to our Fees & Payments page for up to date fee information.
2c) How do I pay my fees?
Please refer to our Payments page for the different fee payment methods available for all families.
2d) Can I pay my fees at the centre with cash or cheques?
No. Concord is a cashless centre which means that we cannot accept cash or cheques as a form of payment. Please see above for how to pay your fees.
2e) How often do I get billed?
You should receive a statement once a fortnight, from our administration office, Becklyn. Your statement details your usage at the centre from the past two weeks, and your total amount owing – which will include any missed payments from before the current period .
3. Childcare Payments
3. Child Care Payments
What is the Childcare Subsidy?
The Childcare Subsidy (CCS) commenced on 2nd July 2018 and replaced both the Child Care benefit (CCB) and Child Care Rebate (CCR).
The Government assists eligible families with their childcare fees by making a payment directly to the service (in the form of CCS) that is passed on as a fee reduction (visible on a family’s statement). Families are then required to pay the difference between the fee charged and the subsidy amount – the “GAP”.
Am I eligible for CCS?
The basic requirements that must be satisfied for an individual to be eligible to receive CCS for a child, include:
- The child must be 13 year old or younger and not attending secondary school
- The child must meet immunisation requirements
- The individual, or their partner, must meet the residency requirements
To determine the CCS percentage and number of eligible hours / fortnight you will be entitled to, Centrelink reviews and assesses:
- Family income
- Results of an Activity test – The combined hours of Approved Activity completed each fortnight (ie work, training, study, recognised voluntary work or other recognised activities)
The number of hours the family is entitled to is based on the individual with the lowest activity test results.
- Type of childcare service (OSHC), which determines the hourly rate cap
If you wish to estimate your CCS, please use the CCS Calculator
How do I apply for CCS?
- Make a claim – lodge a Child Care Subsidy Claim via the MyGov website
If you do not have a MyGov account, you can create one using https://my.gov.au/
If you don’t receive confirmation of your CCS Assessment, please contact Centrelink on 136150
How do I claim CCS through the Centre?
- Agree to the Complying Written Agreement – This is also known as enrolling at the Centre via the Portal. PLEASE NOTE: The Guardian on the enrolment MUST be the parent who has been assessed for CCS.
In order for Becklyn (administrators for the OSHC) to make a link with Centrelink, the following information must be provided as part of the enrolment (or shortly after):
- Guardian registered to receive CCS
- This person’s CRN
- This person’s DOB
- Each child’s CRN
- Each child’s DOB
- Becklyn (administrators for the OSHC) will submit a CCS Enrolment Notice to Centrelink, providing the above 5 pieces of information, along with the typical pattern of attendance, fees and session hours.
This will update your child’s CCS Enrolment status to one of the below:
Pending Eligibility
This usually means either:
- You have not completed the CCS application in its entirety, as yet OR
- You have completed the CCS application however Centrelink is still assessing this or it has been cancelled OR
- The CCS Application has been completed under a different name other than your name OR
- You may need to re-apply for CCS with Centrelink as it has been more than 6months since the last attendance. If this is the case, when you log into your MyGov account you should be able to “make a claim” to reapply
ACTION REQUIRED:
- Review and determine the reason for the CCS Status being Pending Eligibility and address this reason.
Received
This means the 5 pieces of information provided at enrolment time or the combinations do not match the Centrelink system.
ACTION REQUIRED:
- Review the 5 pieces of information provided and advise Becklyn of any updates
Pending Confirmation
Enrolment information has been sent to CCS and the 5 pieces of information supplied match the Centrelink system. There is now a requirement to confirm the CCS Enrolment
ACTION REQUIRED:
- Log into your MyGov account
- Select Centrelink
- Click on the Menu (3 bars top left of the screen)
- Expand Child Care
- Select Enrolments – check all your children have an enrolment status of Confirmed. Action any that don’t by clicking on “View Details”, checking the details and confirming these by selecting “Yes”, and “Next”, then accepting the declaration and submitting.
Centrelink will automatically advise CCS % reduction and number of fortnightly hours to the service administrators (+ withholding percentage)
What is a CRN?
A CRN is a ‘Customer Reference Number’ Centrelink uses to identify your personal record. A CRN is a 9 digit number and ends with a letter.
What is a ‘Received’ enrolment?
This means enrolment information has been sent to CCS however there is some information that is either missing or doesn’t match with Centrelink records. This is usually the CRN for the claiming parent or child / DOB.
What happens to my CCS if my child is absent?
If your child is absent, CCS is still payable but only for up to 42 absences for each child, per financial year. Please note: this number is not per claimant if you have a split family account.
In special circumstances, you may get CCS for more than 42 absence days, if supporting documents have been provided.
No CCS is payable however for any session of care that occurs:
– after the last day a child physically attended care, or
– before the first day a child physically attended care
Why is my child’s CCS enrolment ‘Ceased’?
When there has been no attendances for 14 Weeks, Centrelink will automatically update the Child’s CCS status to ‘Ceased’.
When Centrelink updates an enrolment to Ceased, they review the child’s submitted attendances/child’s last physical attendance at the service. Where CCS has been paid, Centrelink will automatically recover any CCS paid for absences after the child’s last attendance.
BECKLYN will send a new CCS enrolment to Centrelink, either the week prior to or the beginning of the week bookings recommence.
You will need to log into your MyGov account and confirm the new CCS Enrolment. This can be done by:
- Selecting Centrelink
- Clicking on the Menu (3 bars top left of the screen)
- Expanding Childcare Subsidy
- Clicking on Enrolments – Confirming each child’s CCS enrolment.
4. General Centre Information
4. General Centre Information
4a) What time is breakfast at the centre?
Breakfast is held from 7:00am until 8:30am. Please ensure that you arrive before 8:30am if your child requires breakfast.
4b) What is the procedure if I am running late to pick up my child?
We understand that sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances that may mean you will be running late to collect your child. In this circumstance, you should call the centre to notify them that you are expecting to be late and give the staff member your estimated time of arrival. A late pick-up fee of $10.00 for the first five minutes and $5.00 for every minute after, may be charged from 6:00pm onwards.
4c) What happens if I drop my child off before opening hours?
If you drop your child off before 7:00am, (7:30am during Vacation Care) you may be charged an early drop off fee. The charge is $10.00 for the first five minutes and $5.00 for every minute after until opening time.
4d) My child has started in Kindergarten and is new to the centre. How will my child get to and from school and OOSH?
In Term One, we try to ensure that the transition to school is as easy as possible for our Kindergarten children. In the morning sessions, the Kindergarten children stay at the centre until 9am at which time they are walked to their classroom with a staff member. In the afternoon sessions, the Kindergarten children are picked up from their classrooms five minutes before the bell and walked to OOSH with a staff member.