Everything you need to know

Start by booking a tour at the centre you like. After your visit, our team walks you through enrolment step by step, including setting up your Child Care Subsidy (CCS).

We care for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. Each centre has rooms and programs for every age and stage: Nursery, Toddlers, Pre-Kindy and Kindergarten.

We supply nappies, wipes, sunscreen, meals and linen. Just bring a spare change of clothes, a hat, and any comfort items your child loves. Your centre will give you a full checklist before you start.

Yes. We encourage settling-in visits, where your child spends time in their room with their educators before the first official day. It helps them feel at home, and lets you see how they settle before the first full day.

Fees vary by centre and age group. Contact the centre you are interested in, or enquire online, for a current fee schedule. We'll also help you work out your likely out-of-pocket cost after the Child Care Subsidy.

The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is an Australian Government payment that lowers your childcare costs. You apply through your myGov account linked to Centrelink. The subsidy is paid straight to us, so you only pay the gap. Most families pay much less than the full daily rate.

No. The daily fee covers everything: meals, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, learning programs, special events and activities. There is nothing extra to pay.

CCS is usually reduced, suspended or reclaimed for one of three reasons: attendance and absence issues, an administrative step that has not been completed, or a change in your family's eligibility. Almost all of these are avoidable once you know what to watch for, and our team is happy to help you stay on top of them.

You get 42 allowable absence days per child each financial year, and CCS is still paid on those days. Once a child goes over 42 absences, CCS is not paid for further absent days unless you give Services Australia an approved reason, such as a medical certificate or court order. We can help you submit the paperwork.

CCS cannot be paid for absences before your child's first physical day of care, or after their last physical day. If you end care and your child is marked absent on their final scheduled day, Services Australia removes CCS for that day and for any absent days back to the last day your child actually attended. If your child's final days would be absences, talk to us about the best end date.

If a child does not physically attend for 14 weeks in a row, Services Australia automatically cancels the enrolment, and any CCS paid for absences after the last day of attendance is withdrawn. That can create a debt for your family, so if you know you will be away for an extended period, please let your centre know so we can plan around it.

CCS is calculated strictly from the digital sign-in and sign-out records we submit. If a child is not signed in or out and it is not corrected before the submission deadline, Centrelink cannot process CCS for that session and the full fee applies. Signing in and out each day on the kiosk or in the app is the easiest way to protect your subsidy.

Children must meet the National Immunisation Program schedule to keep CCS (the 'No Jab, No Pay' rule). If your child falls behind and you have not set up an approved catch-up schedule within Centrelink's grace period, CCS is suspended. If you are not sure where your child sits, we can point you in the right direction.

Yes. CCS is paid on an estimate of your family income and then reconciled after the financial year. If you, and your partner if you have one, do not lodge your tax returns within the required timeframe (by the end of the following financial year), CCS payments stop and past subsidies may be clawed back.

When we create an Enrolment Notice or update your Complying Written Arrangement (CWA), you need to log into myGov and confirm it. Until you do, CCS will not be applied to your account, so it is worth confirming as soon as you get the notification.

Yes. If a child goes 26 consecutive weeks without a single session of care, CCS eligibility for that child is cancelled, and you would need to submit a brand-new CCS claim through myGov rather than simply re-linking with us. If a long break is coming up, a quick chat with your centre can help you avoid this.

It can. Subsidised hours are tied to the activity test, so if your combined family activity hours (work, study or volunteering) drop to zero without an eligible exemption, subsidised hours drop to zero too. If your family income goes over the maximum threshold, the subsidy also stops. Keeping your details current in myGov keeps your entitlement accurate.

CCS automatically ends when a child turns 13, or starts secondary school, unless approved exemption criteria apply for a child with a disability or medical condition.

Yes. Our in-house cooks prepare five fresh meals a day at every centre: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and a late snack, all made from scratch with good ingredients.

Yes. Every centre is nut-free, and our cooks cater for allergies and dietary needs. All staff are trained in anaphylaxis management.

Every centre has controlled access entry, CCTV, strict sign-in/out protocols and secure outdoor areas. All staff hold current Working With Children Checks and first aid certifications.

Most centres operate from 7:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday. Valencia Drive ELC operates from 6:30am to 6:30pm. Check your specific centre page for exact hours.

We follow strict illness exclusion policies to protect all children. If your child becomes unwell during the day, we'll contact you immediately. We follow NSW Health guidelines for exclusion periods.

Through the OWNA family app you'll get photos, learning stories, daily updates and any incident reports through the day, so you always know how your child is going.

Our programs are built on the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF): Belonging, Being and Becoming. Our qualified educators plan play-based, child-led learning around each child's interests and abilities.

Yes. Our Transition to School program helps build the confidence, social skills and early learning children need for a smooth start to kindergarten.