Defence Community Organisation

Index

• About the Defence Child Care Program
• Salary Packaging
• Extended Child Care Program
• Family Day Care Employment Opportunities for Defence Spouses
• Contacts and Useful Links
• Frequently Asked Questions

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Purpose:

The purpose of the Defence Child Care Program is to aid mobility by facilitating priority of access to child care for Defence families where the local community is unable to meet the demand for child care places.

Mobility is the principal driver for the facilitation of child care. Accordingly, the focus of the program is on facilitating priority of access to child care for mobile Defence families so that they can access some form of child care on arrival in the gaining locality.

The contract between Defence and ABC Corporate Care Pty Ltd (ABC) came into effect on 01 July 2005.

Expansion:

The Defence Child Care Expansion Program is a significant element of this contract. Through the program, Defence is increasing the number of priority child care places available to Defence families. These centres are known as Defence Corporate Centres.

The Expansion Program is guided by a steering group including representatives from the three Services, the Defence Housing Authority, Defence Families of Australia, Defence Support Group and the Defence Community Organisation. The focus of the group is to secure additional centres both in areas of high unmet need and significant Defence population.

To date Defence has accepted a total of 20 new centres offered by ABC throughout Australia, increasing the Defence Child Care Program to a total of 39 Child Care Centres( Word, 118k).

ABC child care centres that provide priority of access to Defence families under the contract with Defence are commonly known as Defence Child Care Centres.

EXPANSION CONTACT:

Assistant Manager DCCP:            Terry Evans – (02)6127-2310
                                                            Terry.evans@defence.gov.au

Priority of Access:

Access to places at Defence child care centres is determined through the application of the Defence Priority of Access Guidelines (Defence POAG). This enables Defence families to have priority to available places in these centres, ahead of other families. The guidelines emphasise and support the requirement for Defence families to relocate for service reasons (referred to as mobility) as the principle driver for child care provision. This is achieved through applying a points systems based on family composition and mobility. The ABC staff in each Defence child care centre maintain waiting lists for care and process applications according to these guidelines.

A copy of the Defence Priority of Access Guidelines can be found at POA Guidelines

With the significant increase in the number of priority child care places available, and the expansion of the child care industry providing increased availability of child care in the general community, Defence families now have more child care options available to them than ever before.

Defence POAG QUESTIONS:

Assistant Manager DCCP:            Terry Evans – (02)6127-2310
                                                            Terry.evans@defence.gov.au

The ABC Contract:

Defence always intended the contract with ABC to mark a significant change to Defence’s relationship with child care. This change was necessary to achieve increased access to child care and to ensure the longevity of the child care program, while still maintaining the same general types of services. One aspect that remains unchanged, however, is the minimum contractual requirement that services provided by ABC meet or exceed community standards. 

In essence, the Defence contract with ABC requires that all centres must, at a minimum, meet the relevant State and Territory licensing regulations and participate in the National Childcare Accreditation Council Quality Improvement program. Centres must be staffed to meet the licensing requirements of the relevant State or Territory. These requirements are different in every State and Territory and are regulated by the relevant State or Territory body. All staffing matters are ABC’s responsibility and Defence plays no role in resolving industrial issues, except where they raise contractual issues in relation to licensing requirements.
                                                                                   
Each centre also provides different services; for example, each Defence centre has different operating hours, a different number of places available in each age group, and only some provide services such as meals, nappies and linen.

As a result of the contract with ABC, the number of priority long day care places offered now exceeds 2,400 and management of Defence child care centres occurs at no cost to Defence.

Toll Free Enrolment Line – 1800 222 543:

The ABC National Enrolments Call Centre is an integral part of the contract between Defence and ABC Corporate Care providing a centralized point of contact for Defence families looking for childcare in their selected areas. The Call Centre operators have access to information on approximately 1000 child care centres in Australia including Defence and Defence Corporate Child Care Centres.

Families can contact the Call Centre on 1800 222 543 and they will be provided with general information on childcare in their area of interest and advised on what options are available in terms of Priority of Access and Salary Sacrifice. The Centre can also transfer callers through to their preferred child care centre where they can speak to the Centre’s Director about availability and waiting lists.

The National Enrolments Call Centre is open Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 6.30pm EST, an after hours service operates outside these times.

Employment Opportunities:

ABC also offer employment opportunities for Defence partners working in the child care industry. This includes transferring Defence partners employed by ABC Corporate Care between their centres when posted, where vacancies exist, as well as providing training through the ABC Early Childhood Training College at staff discounted rates.

Fees:

When ABC took over the contract for the original 18 Defence child care centres, they inherited the existing fee structure; however unlike the previous contract, ABC is responsible for meeting all the costs of providing child care in accordance with the contract, including building maintenance, through income derived from parent fees. Any fee increases are generally a direct result of increases in the cost of providing care.  They remain at reasonable rates and similar increases would be expected at any child care centre in the community.

The contract requires that any fee increase proposed by ABC is approved by Defence following extensive benchmarking against like services in the locality.

Complaint Management:

As a licensed child care provider, and under the Defence contract, ABC is required to operate a parent complaint/grievance policy and to deal with all complaints. Parents should in the first instance, address their complaint to the ABC Centre Director who will respond as appropriate. If the Centre Director is unable to address the complaint or if parents are not satisfied with the response, the complaint should be elevated to the ABC Area Manager. The ABC parent complaint/grievance policy is outlined in the ABC Policy and Procedure Manual which is available at each Centre. ABC prepares a report of each complaint that is provided to DCO so that any contractual issues are evident and can be actioned. 

The role of Defence Community Organisation (DCO) is to manage the contract, and it is only appropriate for DCO to intervene in complaints where the resolution is inappropriate or raises contractual issues. Any complaints received by Defence are forwarded to ABC to action. Experience shows that where the complaint process is used appropriately, issues are resolved promptly and effectively.

Further general information about lodging a complaint about child care services can be found on the following web site:

http://www.ncac.gov.au/families_and_children/families_children_index.htm#lodging

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What is salary packaging of child care?

An arrangement between Defence (the employer) and you (the employee) where you agree to forego part of your future entitlement to salary or wages, in return for a benefit in the form of child care to the same monetary value of the salary you would normally receive.  The combined total of salary or wages and the benefit must not exceed the total of your normal salary.  When you ask Defence to pay for your child care as part of your salary package, you are choosing to forego all entitlement to Child Care Benefit (CCB) and the Child Care Tax Rebate.

What is not salary packaging?

A regular pay deduction (or direct debit) from your salary or wages to pay for child care fees does not constitute a salary packaging arrangement.

Eligibility for Child Care Benefit and the Child Care Rebate.

To be eligible for CCB, you or your partner must be liable to pay for the child care.  The issue of liability depends on who has the obligation to pay the child care fees.

If you salary package the cost of child care fees, this means that Defence as the employer is liable for the cost of all child care fees that are paid under salary packaging arrangements, so Defence (and not you) has the legal liability to pay the fees.  You are therefore not eligible for CCB or the Child Care Tax Rebate. 

You must choose between either salary packaging OR receiving CCB and the Child Care Tax Rebate.

Considerations prior to salary packaging child care fees.

If you are considering entering into a salary packaging arrangement for your child care fees, you are strongly encouraged to seek independent financial advice.

This should help in determining whether the arrangement would be financially
advantageous for your family.

Salary packaging is not beneficial for many families and it is very important that you understand the relative benefits of salary packaging against claiming CCB and the Child Care Tax Rebate.

What to do if you salary package and have claimed CCB and/or the Child Care Tax Rebate

If you salary package you child care fees and have claimed the CCB and/or the Child Care Tax Rebate you should immediately contact Centrelink and arrange to correct the claim and repay the Child Care benefit. Centrelink will then correct their records and the Tax Office will issue an amended assessment regarding the Child Care Tax Rebate.

Further information

Further advice can be obtained from the Defence Tax Management Office (DTMO) Hotline on 1800 806 053, however be advised that DTMO does not provide personal tax advice.  Those who require advice on personal taxation matters should contact their personal tax advisor or the ATO direct.

Family Assistance Office                      136151
Australian Taxation Office                   132861

If you would like further information about the Defence FRP Scheme, contact Smart Salary on 1800 632 496. More information including a list of Centres that offer the salary packaging option to Defence families is available at http://www.smartsalary.com.au by entering the employer code A100.

For further information contact:

Debbie Willimott
Defence Child Care Program
Telephone: 02 6127-2311
e-mail: debbie.willimott@defence.gov.au

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The Extended Child Care Program (ECCP) will provide funding to child care organisations on a demonstrated needs basis as part of a competitive process.

Who can apply?

Organisations that provide work-related child care to Defence families particularly in relation to Family Day Care and Occasional Care.

Community groups must be incorporated to be eligible to receive Commonwealth Government funding and employ child care workers that meet the necessary State and Territory Regulations. All applications for funding must include copies of the incorporation, constitution and insurance policies.

How to apply:

A copy of the guidelines (PDF, 39k) and application form (PDF, 11k) can be downloaded from this site; or contact the Defence Child Care Program team on 02 6127 2311 for further information.

Completed applications for funding will be accepted throughout the year for consideration. Applications should be directed to:

ECCP CONTACT:

Assistant Manager DCCP:            Debbie Willimott – (02) 6127 2311
                                                            Debbie.Willimott@defence.gov.au

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In response to the demand for more child care providers nationally, a range of initiatives are available through either the Defence Child Care Program (DCCP) or the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA) to assist with the initial set-up costs involved in establishing a Family Day Care (FDC) business.

Reimbursement can only be claimed through one agency, that is, either Defence or FaCSIA. Once you/your partner have received reimbursement the set up expenses cannot be claimed as work-related expenses in preparing your annual taxation return.

What does Defence reimburse?

Defence, through the DCCP, reimburses ADF members for FDC set-up costs incurred by their partner.

Is there an FBT liability?

Reimbursement of initial set-up costs through the DCCP will be used in calculating the total fringe benefts tax (FBT) liability for the Department of Defence. While you are not required to pay this amount, the grossed up fringe benefits amount will be reported on an ADF member’s payment summary where the total benefits received by the member over the FBT year (1 April to 31 March) exceeds $2,000.  This may have an effect on eligibility for Government pensions or benefits and on child support payments.

Approved initial set-up costs.

The following initial set-up costs have been approved for reimbursement on completion and return of receipts to the Child Care Program:

• First aid certificate
• Public liability insurance
• Police checks
• Car safety certificate
• FDC scheme registration fee

The above list is indicative only, as some FDC Schemes cover the cost of some of the prerequisites, and other FDC Schemes do not. Each application will be individually assessed and processed by the Defence Child Care Program in DCO HQ.

Application form.

To apply, complete the application (PDF, 16k) for reimbursement of initial set-up costs, attaching receipts. The form requires the signature of the ADF member to acknowledge that receiving reimbursement may result in the grossed up FBT amount being reported on the ADF member’s payment summary.  

DCCP FDC CONTACT:

Assistant Manager DCCP:          Debbie Willimott – (02) 6127 2311
                                                          Debbie.Willimott@defence.gov.au

FaCSIA Family Day Care Start Up Payment.

Information regarding the Family Day Care Start Up Payment can be found at www.facsia.gov.au or by telephoning 1300 653 227 and asking for the Family Day Care Start Up Payment Assessment Team.

Fact sheets and claim forms are available through this service.

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ABC Corporate Care - http://www.childcare.com.au

ABC National Enrolments Call Centre - 1800 222 543 (from Overseas +61 7 3906 3398) or email enrolments@childcare.com.au

Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs – http://www.facsia.gov.au

Family Day Care Australia--http://www.familydaycare.com.au  the national industry association for family day care.

Office of Early Childhood Education and Childcare - fact sheets : http://www.oececc.gov.au/child_care/fact_sheets.htm

Child Care Benefit – http://www.familyassist.gov.au/internet/fao/fao1.nsf/content/payments-ccb

National Childcare Accreditation Council - http://www.ncac.gov.au/

Child Care Access Hotline - 1800 670 305

Flexible Remuneration Packaging Scheme – Smart Salary http://www.smartsalary.com.au or 1800 632 496

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