Guest sarahnshaun Posted January 11, 2008 Posted January 11, 2008 Hi guys, We are hopefully moving to Canberra in September this year and were wondering if anybody could possibly give us a rough estimate as to the cost of full time childcare in Canberra? Have looked at a few websites and have come up with a rough figure of around 2k a month - is this about right? Any help would be most appreciated! Many thanks Sarah
Quoll Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 I would think that $2K a month would be a bit on the high side - I would have thought $300 - $400 a week would do it (per child). Places are quite limited though and can be hard to find. If you are lucky some employers have creches. All depending on the age of the child, it is sometimes possible to get a full time educational setting - some of the independent schools have a full time preschool program, however they are school hours programs and you will probably be wanting an 8am - 6pm program. There is also a family day care program which would turn out a bit cheaper - sort of like all day baby sitting at someone's house. Day care can be good if you get a good person but you dont get the specialist early childhood education that most centres offer for preschool age kids. If you are going to be a permanent resident there is a means tested child care benefit scheme - I think everyone gets at least the base rate though.
Guest sarahnshaun Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 Thanks Quoll, should've said that the $2k figure was for 2 kids:) So looks like our estimates may have been a wee bit low... Our kids will be 1 and 3 by the time we get there, so we're just trying to work out a rough budget to see if we can actually earn enough to live off over there. We hope to be pulling in around $100-120k a year between us, but between the fairly hefty mortgage we'll need and childcare, we're starting to think things could get tight...
Quoll Posted January 12, 2008 Posted January 12, 2008 You're probably about right for two kids because they do tend to give discounts for subsequent kids. You should be OK on your expected salary although it does depend on how hefty the mortgage! It's a very long time ago now but we actually paid less when our kids went to private school than we did when they were at child care! Looks like that could still be true! Would you like me to call a couple of places and get exact figures? The websites, especially those of the big franchises do seem rather coy about their fees!
Guest sarahnshaun Posted January 13, 2008 Posted January 13, 2008 That would be fantastic - thank you! As you said, they do seem to be a little reluctant to share their fees on the web! We have been researching everything to do with Canberra for the last 2 months and have only found two websites that have the fees listed. Thank you for your help - it is greatly appreciated! Sarah
Quoll Posted January 14, 2008 Posted January 14, 2008 OK I randomly called 3, one national franchise type place and two independent but private centres. They are all in the region of $320 - 325 pw per child - no discount for two kids. As I said, there is a child care benefit for permanent residents but that is means tested so I wasnt able to ask about that. The one I found on the net indicated $279 pw but who knows how current that price is. I did go for centres which were pretty central to the CBD because the chances are that you will be working somewhere central but you may find that the further out you go, the cheaper the prices will be ( as will the housing!!!) The three centres I called all said they were pretty well full up and advised putting your name on a waiting list asap. Where you decide to put them will, I suppose, largely depend on where you will be working. I know that some people swear by the national franchise mob whereas others wont touch them with a barge pole. I think it would be hard to make a decision without at least having a look at what the atmosphere is like so perhaps you need to think about putting their names down on a few waitlists! Hope that helps a bit. Probably not what you were wanting to hear though!
Guest sarahnshaun Posted January 15, 2008 Posted January 15, 2008 Thank you so much for doing that - it helps us out alot! It's always better to find out maximum's and base it on that rather than go on minimums and be disappointed! You mention that the further out you go, the cheaper it may be. Where would you recommend in terms of where do you get the most property wise for your money? In terms of commuting, we don't mind as long as the roads are good. Currently we live less that 4 miles from where we work but it takes over 45 minutes to get to work! The joys of rush hour! I'm so sorry to flood you with so many questions, but by any chance, do you know a good mortgage broker who we could possibly email to find out what we could borrow? It's so hard knowing where to start and what to look out for when you are the other side of the world! If I am asking too much, just say so as I know I have asked alot! Once again, thank you so much for all your help! Sarah and Shaun
Quoll Posted January 16, 2008 Posted January 16, 2008 Ooops, this is the real estate site I meant - the other one is ok but this one is best
restfamily Posted January 28, 2008 Posted January 28, 2008 Hi Long day care aka nurseries in UK are about $70 per day inc food and nappies. Staff ratios are 1:5 for under 3s and 1:11 for over 3s (I am not very happy with these compared to the UK, especially for the babies) You get 30% of the cost back in you tax and you may get a very small gov subsidy - CCB (we get about $4 a day!!) You need get your names down now as there is a real shortage. check out CareforKids.com.au ® - Search for Child Care Centres Nannies Babysitters Au Pairs Do you know where you are going to? We are in Tuggeranong. K
Guest sarahnshaun Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Hi everyone Thank you for your replies and help on this, it has come in very useful. Just thought I would share our good news - Shaun has been accepted for his job and it looks as thought we will be over in Canberra for September! Very exciting but scary at the same time! I now haven't a clue on how to start getting ready to move! :smile:
restfamily Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Congrats. What is he going to do and where? You will soon come up with a very big spreadsheet that will just get bigger and then it will be here before you know it. All the very best K
Quoll Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Excellent news! You will be arriving just in time for summer so that is good! Dont fret, it will all fall into place!
Guest sarahnshaun Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 Hi guys His job is with the Government. He's just come out of the RAF and we had a choice of staying here or move to Australia. We are moving because of the lifestyle for our kids. Plus the chance to actually go outside and see some sun during the summer would be quite nice! It's very scary now telling everyone that we are definetely going. It's been discussed for so long that I think family and friends thought that it was just a pipe dream. Told my mum this morning - I think she's off to book her plane tickets for xmas already! I cannot wait! The worst thing is trying to keep my mouth shut at work so that nobody finds out! It's so hard when you are excited! Thank you again for your help with the child care thing. We haven't a clue where we will be living so we have decided for me to stay at home with the kids for a few months until we all find our feet. Sarah x p.s. Is it really bad in Canberra for spiders and snacks? :smile:
Guest sarahnshaun Posted March 12, 2008 Posted March 12, 2008 That last bit should of read snakes not snacks! I'm definetely not afraid of those!
Quoll Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 I was going to say that the snacks are disgusting but the coffees arent too bad:biglaugh: No the snakes are not a problem at all - been here a very long time and seen only half a dozen in that time and they were all out in the bush miles away from the nearest snack bar:biglaugh: Spiders - not really a problem. We do have redbacks in the garden in the woodpile but havent seen one in a while. We do get white tails which can have a necrotic effect but they dont attack you unless you have a go at them. We have had a couple of possums down the chimney this winter - stupid things end up in the slow combustion stove and are the very devil to get out. They pee everywhere and possum pee is not nice! We also just had rats in the roof - they tend to come inside at this time of year but a few judicious traps up there seems to have cleared them out.
Guest sarahnshaun Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 Thanks for the info. I don't have a problem with snakes, just a little bit scared of spiders but i'm trying to over come it! Do you have to check your shoes everytime you put them on? My colleague from Oz who has lived in the uk for the last 10 years says that she still does it now out of habit! Thanks for the tip about the snacks - i will try and avoid them if possible although i'm bound to come across them at some point in time! :smile:
Quoll Posted March 13, 2008 Posted March 13, 2008 You only really need to check your shoes if you leave them outside. I dont think I have ever checked my shoes! I never leave them outside although a lot of families do, especially if they have a deck or verandah (we dont). The spiders we have are not the big fang waving ones like the Sydney funnelweb thank heavens. Most of them are shy little things that scuttle away. DS2 did get bitten by one once - it was on the lane rope of the pool when he was training one night and he had a very nasty reaction and ended up in hospital for a few hours but that was the only time we ever had a problem. On our last trip out to the bush to see said DS2 and his young family, we saw 3 red bellied black snakes on one day - doubled my total snake count for the rest of the 29 years we have been here!
Guest AnnChovy Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Can I add my question to your thread please? I am trying to find out the going rate for a childminder (living in) in Canberra. Anyone have a Nanny McPhee and willing to disclose her fee?!
Quoll Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Can I add my question to your thread please?I am trying to find out the going rate for a childminder (living in) in Canberra. Anyone have a Nanny McPhee and willing to disclose her fee?! If you see my previous post - I called a few big child care centres in Civic which is the centre of town and without any subsidies or anything the going rate was about $320 a week. If you have PR then there will be means tested rebates which will bring the price down considerably. Even so, it is not a cheap experience! We also have quite a thriving Family Day Care system so you have options for home or centre based child care (their home not yours - for that you would need a nanny). Havent seen a Nanny McPhee around here recently - those warts are a dead give away!
Guest AnnChovy Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Thanks Quoll- yes I did see those costs (we have been quoted 70 bucks a day in one place!) and that is really what has me thinking that it would make sense for us to have someone live with us and take care of our children- more flexible and probably cheaper. I would be providing accommodation and food, electricity and internet access, etc, but I was wondering how much I would have to pay to get someone- not just an au pair but someone experienced and reliable. From what you say this is not too common an arrangement in Canberra?
restfamily Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 It really depends on your reidency status. Long daycare aka nurseries are about $70 pd some inc nappies and food Family Daycare aka Childminders are $5.50 ph plus nappies food live out Nannies are $15-20ph for up to 4 children, not sure about live out. The government pay 50% of your out of pocket expenses in APPROVED childcare if you are perm res. LDC and FDC are APPROVED Nannies are only approved under certain very strict cicumstances e.g. you can not use LDC/FDC because you are a shift worker / your child or you has a disability / 3 or more children of non school age and through one community group in Canberra. The wait is huge. So unless you are temp res or have loads of money - LDC and FDC is half the price of a nanny for two children. DC in Canberra is very tight and the wait lists are long and spots often do not come up until Feb, when the older children go to school. I currently have my two at different centres because there is no room. I would register ASAP HTH
Guest AnnChovy Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 That explains a lot, thanks! I can see why nannies are not a big feature there under those conditions, but a dedicated childminder would still offer a good solution for us because we won't qualify for the government support. The rates for live out are good to have as a point of reference. I think I will go ahead and contact an agency and see what they say. I found a place on google called mary poppins nannies- as good a place as any to start, I suppose! Thanks again.
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