Australia offers excellent conditions for raising children, characterized by a safe and friendly environment, outstanding education, and exceptional infrastructure. However, for families planning a move or those who have recently arrived in Australia, it is crucial to be aware of Australian regulations and potential costs associated with placing a child in daycare or school. In this article, we have gathered information to help clarify these issues.

Family Visas

Depending on the type of visa you hold, there are options for including your partner and dependent children. For most visa categories such as student visas, work visas, business visas, or residency visas, the primary applicant can include family members in their application. This means that the decision on granting visas for the entire family will be made within a single application. However, if, for any reason, you couldn't include your family members in your initial visa application and have already submitted your visa application for processing, you cannot add them later. In this case, your partner and children will need to submit separate visa applications as subsequent applicants, and their entry will be considered separately.

Family Members, You Can Include in Your Visa Application

First and foremost, this includes your spouse or de facto partner. Official marriage and marriage certificates are not mandatory, but it's essential to prove that your relationship is genuine and stable. Brief dates or online relationships are not considered.

You can also include your dependent children in the application. A dependent child is defined as:

Your child or your partner's child from current or previous relationships.

Not married, engaged, or in a de facto relationship.

Wholly or substantially reliant on you for basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter).

Under 18 years old.

Usually, partners receive similar visas with comparable rights to the primary applicants. For example, partners of students with Student visas (Subclass 500) also obtain student visas. Therefore, they can work up to 40 hours every two weeks during the academic year and unrestricted hours during school breaks. The exception applies to partners of Master's and Doctoral students who can work unlimited hours once the main student commences their course.

A single parent arriving in Australia on a Child Guardian visa (Subclass 590) accompanying a child under 18 years old does not have work rights in Australia.m description

Childcare Centers in Australia

Preschool education in Australia is typically designed for children aged 3 to 5 years old. However, there are childcare centres that accept infants as young as 3 months old. Children have the freedom to play both indoors and outdoors, choosing activities based on their interests. There are designated areas within the facility for drawing, modelling, crafts, and more. If a child needs assistance, caregivers are always nearby, ready to offer help. Childcare centers in Australia are staffed exclusively by individuals with specialized education and a genuine love for children. Therefore, children are always supervised by qualified and attentive personnel, ensuring a safe and friendly environment. 

There are three main types of preschool institutions in Australia:

Child Care Centers or Long Day Care:

Child Care Centers, also known as Long Day Care, are the most popular form of preschool education. These centers provide care for children throughout the whole or part of the day, for up to 12 hours a day. However, the cost can be relatively high, ranging from AU$70 to AU$188 per day.

Kindergarten or Pre-school:

Kindergartens are primarily attended by children who will enter primary school the following year. Often, kindergartens share the same premises with primary schools, giving priority to children who will attend the school in the future. The operating hours are similar to school hours (from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM), and there are holidays and breaks. The cost of kindergarten varies from AU$45 to AU$80 per day.

Family Day Care:

Family Day Care is provided at the home of an experienced certified preschool educator. Typically, these centers have a limited number of children, allowing for individualized attention and care. They also offer more flexible working hours. Family Day Care can cost between AU$7.50 to AU$16.80 per hour. 

Preschool education is fee-based for everyone, but residents can receive subsidies to reduce the costs. Child Care Subsidy is calculated individually and depends on the family's income and the number of hours each family member works per week (considering the least occupied family member). The type of preschool institution and its location also matter. To calculate the subsidy for your family, you can use this calculator. New Zealand citizens living in Australia, permanent residents of Australia, and holders of special visas can also receive government financial support up to AU$246 per child every two weeks.

How to Find a Preschool Institution:

Finding a childcare centre or kindergarten in Australia can be a challenging task as many centres are full and have long waiting lists. Therefore, it's recommended to start your search early. It's best to do this when you have already obtained visas and know exactly where you will be living in Australia. First, consider which city and area you plan to settle in and what your budget is. Afterwards, you can choose several options in your area and contact the administration to clarify enrollment details. If you are already in Australia, you can visit the childcare centre in person and meet with the director and teachers. To enrol your child in a childcare centre, you will need to provide:

Birth certificate

Passport

Proof of residential address - a copy of your lease agreement or utility bill

Your child's immunization passport (vaccination history)

You can find all childcare centres on the Australian government's website. The CareForKids resource can also help you find a suitable childcare centre, compare prices, and find a contact person for enrollment.

Schools in Australia

School education in Australia is compulsory for children aged 5 to 18 years (from Year 0 to Year 12). There are many different schools, which can be broadly categorized into two groups: public and non-government schools.

Among non-government schools, there is a wide variety, allowing parents and students to find a school that meets all their requirements. There are prestigious private schools, religious schools, and schools specializing in specific areas such as sports, science, or arts. However, approximately 70% of Australian children attend public schools.

Cost of Schools

The cost of education in a private school can reach up to AU$35,000 per year. Public schools are free for Australian citizens and residents, as well as if one of the child's parents is an Australian citizen or resident. If both parents are on temporary visas, the school fees will depend on the type of visa and the region where you plan to live, as each Australian state or territory has its own rules and fees for public schools.

Pregnancy and Childbirth in Australia

Prenatal care and childbirth in Australia can be funded by the government and private funds. State assistance is available to Australian citizens and residents under the Medicare health insurance, subsidized by the Australian government. If you are on a temporary visa, free prenatal care and childbirth services will not be available to you. You can check your eligibility for free medical assistance on the Medicare website.

Exceptions apply to residents of countries that have reciprocal healthcare agreements with Australia. These countries include:

United Kingdom

Netherlands

Italy

Slovenia

New Zealand

Sweden

Belgium

Republic of Ireland (except for cases when you are on a student visa)

Malta (except if you are on a student visa)

Finland (except if you are on a student visa)

Norway (except if you are on a student visa)

If free medical insurance (Medicare) does not cover you, you will need to purchase private insurance covering prenatal care and childbirth, or pay for all pregnancy and childbirth expenses yourself.

If you give birth to a child in Australia, you must notify the Immigration Department as soon as possible so they can include the child in your visa. You can do this online through your ImmiAccount by uploading the child's birth certificate, passport, and Form 1022 — Notification of changes in circumstances. Even if the child does not have a passport yet, it can be uploaded later once it is issued.

A child born in Australia has the same status and visa as their parents. Australia does not grant citizenship by birth, except in cases where at least one of the parents has residency or citizenship. If one of the parents obtains residency or Australian citizenship in the future, the child will be eligible for Australian citizenship by birth.