From 2 July 2018, one new Child Care Subsidy will replace the two current child care payments (Child Care Benefit & Child Care Rebate). However, parents who currently receive these child care payments will not be automatically rolled over. To make sure they stay in the new system, parents must fill in a form via their online Centrelink account through myGov between now and July. Families who fail to transition to the new system may miss out on childcare subsidies. Centrelink has sent out information to affected families about how to complete this form.
Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service WA, an NSSRN member centre, has produced a factsheet that explains these changes.
The new payment is a single means-and-activity-tested payment. Families on lower incomes will get more support. More information from the Department of Education and Training is here: https://www.education.gov.au/ChildCarePackage