At Little Wildlings, our goal is to keep costs low to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality Bush Kindy program.

Our Fees & Rebates

  • Little Wildlings Fees

    Our Service caters for children aged 3 to 5 years (one multi-age classroom). We are open from 7:00am to 4:00pm, Monday to Friday, 48 weeks of the year (closed last two weeks of December and first two weeks January) and closed on Queensland public holidays. Notice will be given in our newsletters when these days occur. Fees are charged for each session of care and vary depending on the number of days in care.

    Our daily fee is $128.00 before Child Care Subsidy (CCS) has been applied, and is inclusive of Bush Kindy. These fees are based on a 9 hour session.

    You may be eligible for Child Care Subsidy (CCS) which will reduce the amount you actually need to pay (your out-of-pocket costs).

    FREE KINDY: Starting January 1, 2024, all kindergarten-aged children will be entitled to 15 hours of free kindergarten each week during school terms only (40 weeks per year) in an approved kindergarten program. Our long day care service is in the process of obtaining approval to provide this, and if approved we will offer a kindergarten program from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If approved, your child must attend for three days a week to receive the free kindergarten funding,

    As a long day care service offering a kindy program, we charge for a 9-hour session each day, unlike sessional Kindergartens. However, if we are approved, five of these hours will be covered by the free Kindy hours (up to 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year), so you will only be invoiced for the additional four hours each day during school terms. Outside of school terms (approximately 8 weeks per year) you will be invoiced for full fees each day. If you qualify for the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), you will receive an invoice for the gap fee only, payable via Direct Debit each Friday.

    Please contact us for more information.

  • Childcare Subsidy (CCS)

    The Government offers various subsidies to assist families in reducing childcare costs. Learn more about these subsidies here. Families who wish to receive Child Care Subsidy as reduced fees must apply through the myGov website.

    CCS is a payment from the Government that will provide financial assistance towards the cost of your child’s care and reduce the cost of your total child care fees. It is available to you if you are a parent, foster parent or grandparent with a child in your care who is attending a child care program approved by the Government.

    Child Care Subsidy is paid directly to our Service to be passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families will contribute to their childcare fees and pay the difference between the fee charged by our Service and the subsidy amount received. This is called the ‘gap fee’.

    There are certain requirements you need to meet to be eligible for CCS. Until your CCS has been approved and has commenced, we will require full payment of your child’s early learning and care fees.

    Click on this link to access a CCS calculator.

  • How much can I get?

    The amount of Child Care Subsidy you can get depends on your circumstances. To work out how much CCS you’re eligible for Services Australia will look at all of the following:

    • The combined family income – how much families earn

    • The hourly rate cap based on the type of approved child care you use and your child’s age

    • Your fortnightly family activity level – how much families work, train, study or volunteer

    • The fees charged by the child care service

    • The number of children in your care.

    The amount of subsidised child care you can access per fortnight applies to each child.

    Find out more information here OR click here to estimate how much Child Care Subsidy (CCS) you may get.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • To secure a child’s position, families are required to pay an enrolment fee of $100 (non-refundable) and $400 bond (refundable) to secure the position.

    When 2 weeks’ notice of withdrawal is given, the bond will be refunded if all accounts are up to date.

  • Families are required to make a co-contribution to their child care fees. This is the difference between the fee charged and the child care subsidy amount- the ‘gap fee’.

    ‘Gap fees’ must be paid via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Parents/guardians are required to complete a Direct Debit form upon enrolment.

    Each Friday we will send you a statement via email before your weekly debit. Please check these statements to ensure all details are correct and accurate. If there is any discrepancy, please contact the Nominated Supervisor as soon as possible. 

    Please note that additional charges will apply for any failed transactions as a result of insufficient funds.

    Families are provided with access to Smart Central to access account information.  Each family will be provided with individual log in details; families are reminded not to share passwords or log in details.  

    Families are encouraged to check statements and invoices for any changes to CCS entitlements.

  • Families will be issued with a Statement of Entitlement on a fortnightly basis in accordance with the fee payment and Regulatory requirements

    The Statement of Entitlement will include details of the sessions of care provided and the resulting fee reduction amounts

    The Statement of Entitlement is generated using our CCS Software which meets all requirements as per Family Assistance Law legislation. 

  • We encourage families to notify the Service as soon as possible if your child will be absent for any day or session you have booked. It is recommended that absences are notified to the Service by phone, email or through our app Smart Central.

    Child Care Subsidy will be paid for any absence from an approved child care service your child attends for up to 42 days per child per financial year. Full fees are payable for absences after the initial 42 days. Additional absences beyond 42 days may be approved for specific reasons with supporting documentation. Please talk to the Nominated Supervisor about additional absences. 

    You can access your child’s absence record on your online statement by selecting 'View Child Care Details and Payments' on your Centrelink online account. You can also do this using the Express Plus Families mobile app.

    Public holidays will be counted as an absence if your child would normally have attended the Service on that weekday, and fees have been charged for that day for your child.

    If your child has not attended our Service for 14 continuous weeks, your child’s enrolment will be cancelled, and Centrelink will stop paying your CCS subsidy.

    Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is generally not payable for absences on the first or last days of enrolment.

  • Changes to Your Child’s Regular Booked Days

    We will do everything possible to support the changing needs of families and their children. Two weeks’ written notice is required to change or cancel your child’s regular booked days of attendance. If your child does not attend their last sessions of care, you will be charged full fees for the days they are absent.

    Swap Days

    If you would like to swap your child’s regular days, and the alternative days you want are available in the same week, this can be offered at your Centre Director’s discretion. We will notify you during the week prior if we are able to accommodate your request, as vacancies cannot be confirmed until this time. If your child does not attend on the requested alternative days, or if the requested alternative days are not available and your child does not attend on their regular days, your usual charges will apply for the absence.

    Additional Days

    Additional days can be requested at any time and taken immediately if available. If unavailable, your request for additional days can be added to your centre’s waiting list.