UTS Child Care Inc. - Child Care Fee Policy

AIM OF THIS POLICY

In order for centres to provide a high quality environment and an appropriate program for children we must remain financially viable, while ensuring child care fee levels are at an affordable level for families. We recognise that rising child care fees have created difficulties for many families, and we have developed our fee system to maximise all families access to subsidies. However it is imperative all families pay their child care fees, to ensure UTSCC in return is able to continue providing child care to all families.

We aim to minimise the costs of administration, in particular the collection of child care fees, while ensuring families know what is expected of them, and know about the subsidies available to assist with fees. We ask that all families appreciate the importance of these procedures and contribute to the regular payment of fees without creating unnecessary work for staff in collecting outstanding fees.

ENROLMENT LEVY (child care):

On enrolment all new child care families will be required to pay an enrolment levy of $50 towards the cost of administration of the new enrolment. Only those families who have paid the levy, will be eligible to make a regular booking or to book casual care. Where the Director believes the levy may create a hardship or unreasonable barrier to a family having access to child care, the Director may reduce or waive the levy or postpone payment of the levy. When a family has not used any child care over a calendar year, their enrolment will lapse at the end of that year.

REGULAR BOOKINGS:

Bookings of more than 5 weeks are considered regular bookings. Families making regular bookings must nominate a regular pattern of use, which will determine normal weekly fees for which the family is responsible. Since the centre makes a commitment to providing that regular care each week and having the resources and staff available as requested, child care fees for regular care are charged each week that the centre is open, whether the child attends or not.

Regular bookings may be changed or terminated with 2 weeks notice. Additional days may be booked by regular users with the centre staff and must be paid for by the date care is used. The extra days shall be charged for at the same rate as the family's regular care. The fee for additional days, which are cancelled with at least one day’s notice, may be waived at the Director's discretion. Families with outstanding accounts may not book additional days.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

Weekly full time fees are calculated on an annual basis, taking into account public holidays, and so there is no reduction in fees for weeks which include public holidays. Daily fees are set at a higher rate, as payment is not required for Public Holidays.

CASUAL BOOKINGS:

Bookings for less than 5 weeks in total are to be considered as casual bookings. Families who have paid the enrolment levy may make casual bookings in advance. The acceptance of any casual bookings in advance, is at the discretion of the Director.

Casual bookings must be paid for prior to care being confirmed. Staffing arrangements are organised on the basis of the number of children booked, including casual children. Hence, once a casual booking has been made, the family will be charged the child care fee for that care, whether the child attends or not. The fee for casual care which is cancelled with at least one day's notice may be waived at the Director's discretion in exceptional circumstances. Families with outstanding accounts may not book casual days.

FEE SUBSIDY ENTITLEMENTS:

Staff and students of UTS will have an automatic rebate on their daily fees on proof of status being provided. There can be no backdating of rebates. Presentation of documentation is the responsibility of a parent.

Most Australian families are entitled to the Child Care Benefit a daily or end of year rebate provided through Family Assistance Offices. Please register with this department for your rebate and TO ENSURE YOU HAVE A CUSTOMER REFERENCE NUMBER (CRN). In order for the centre to notify the department of your child's attendance.

Birth certificates must be provided at least 2 weeks before children turn 2.5 years in order for fees to be reduced on the week that the child turns 2.5 years. It is the family’s responsibility to ensure the office is notified of your child turning 2.5 years in order to obtain the reduced fee. There can be no fee backdating as well.

Families experiencing financial difficulties may apply for special assistance. Please speak to your Centre's Director.

PAYMENT OF FEES:

All REGULAR families are required to set up some form of automatic payment of fees. Without automatic payment systems, the centres have found that while many families remain up to date a significant number do not always remain up to date with fees. It is not appropriate for child care staff to be continually reminding and chasing families to pay fees.

The preferred method of automatic payment is by a direct debit from a bank account. You provide details on the standard forms of your account details, and we organise payment of fees via direct bank debit to occur on a Friday each fortnight for the following fortnight. Families may organise a salary deduction from their wage each week or fortnight to be paid directly to UTSCC. UTS staff contact UTS HRU for details.

UTS staff only may negotiate a salary package which includes payment of child care fees. This is a tax effective arrangement which may offer significant savings. Contact UTS HRU for details.

Families who wish to make another type of automatic arrangement should speak to their centre Director. EFTPOS is available to pay for additional & casual days, excursions, late fees etc. Occasional casual care bookings must be paid for prior to leaving the child in the program.

FEE DIFFERENTIALS:

The centres charge higher fees for children under 2.5 years. This is in recognition of the higher staffing requirements for these younger children. Fees are slightly higher per day for part time attendance in recognition of the extra workload for staff and those part time families do not pay on Public Holidays. Families of UTS have a rebate available in recognition that UTS and UTS Union contribution to the funding of the centres for the UTS community.

ENROLMENT OPTIONS:

Children may attend any combination of the following sessions:

A full time week, 5 days per week Monday to Friday.

Part time days, between 8am - 6.00pm.

Part time evening: between 5-10pm (when available - only available at Kids Campus and Magic Pudding).

Extended days of up to 12 hours (between 8am-10pm) on any day of the week during semester periods when evening care is available.

A casual day when approved by the centre Director

LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN:

It is not acceptable that children are picked up late from the centres. The centres are able to open for specific periods as per our license from the State Government and approval from the Local Councils. Staff are employed to work those hours and have a right to finish work at the agreed time. Late shift staff delayed from finishing on time may suffer public transport delays etc and may have their own family commitments that need to be met.

You must leave the centre prior to normal closing time (not merely arrive at the centre prior to normal closing time). If you are delayed beyond your normal booking you must ring the centre to notify staff so we can organise appropriate staffing to cope with the change. It is your responsibility as a parent to ensure your child is picked up on time. However we understand that a parent may be delayed and unable to be at the centre by closing time through circumstances beyond their control. However should this occur more than 3 times within a calendar year, you will be asked to "show cause" why your child's enrolment should not be terminated.

If you are delayed through unavoidable circumstances, you should ring the centre to let staff know what is happening. If we have not heard from you staff will attempt to contact both parents and the emergency contacts nominated on your enrolment form. Families who are late collecting children after closing time will be given a letter and in addition, if your child is still in the centre after closing time you may be required to pay a penalty of up to $20 per half hour at the discretion of the Director.