Parents wanting to take advantage of fortnightly child care rebate (CCR) payments should do so before end of Friday June 17 or miss out for 12 month, advised Queensland’s peak child care body, Childcare Queensland.

The federal government has changed the CCR to allow parents to have it paid through the government and directly off their child care fees on a weekly/fortnightly basis thus making child care fees more manageable rather than quarterly or annually in arrears. Increased cash flow for families would be greatly improved under this method.

Parents eligible for CCR must contact Family Assistance Office and advise their preference of a change of payment timing. Failure to act before June 17 will mean that no change can be made from the current method of payment until 2012/2013 financial year.

Brisbane parent, Jacqueline Northey, who has a two year old in long-day care, says the change of CCR period has made child care more accessible and affordable to her family.

“This change in CCR payment has enabled me to access child care for my son for an extra day a week to three days, allowing me to work an extra day a week,” Jacqueline said.

“It has made child care more financially accessible and it would be a shame if parents missed out because they’re not aware of the timing limitations,” she said.

Childcare Queensland applauds the changes the federal government has made to CCR but asks government to consider allowing parents to make changes to their CCR preference every quarter – particular in this first year of introduction of the more regular payment and the confusion surrounding the timelines.

Childcare Queensland CEO Gwynn Bridge says many parents are not aware of the tight deadline.

“This is a great win for parents having the CCR paid directly off their fees on a fortnightly basis and makes child care participation more immediately affordable for many parents, particularly those struggling under the current tough economic times,” Ms. Bridge said.

“If parents do not advise Family Assistance before close of business Friday June 17 they will not be able to take advantage of the changes until 1st July 2012,” she said.

“Some families will miss out on regular payments after 1st July, 2011 because they just didn’t realise it was available to them or they just forgot, but other family’s circumstances will change during the year and they will not be able to take advantage of the reduced fee payments until the 2012/2013 financial year,” Ms. Bridge said.

Childcare Queensland is Australia’s largest state child care organisation with a membership of 880 long-day care centres, caring for 115,000 children, communicating with over 210,000 parents and representing 15,000 staff.