24 OctAdditional Child Care Subsidy changes
In a recent announcement, the Australian Department of Education has made significant changes to the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) child wellbeing program. Designed to provide crucial assistance to families caring for children at risk of serious abuse or neglect, these changes aim to reduce barriers to Early Childhood Education and Care for vulnerable children and families.
One of the key changes is the consolidation of service delivery under Services Australia, making the application process more efficient and straightforward. All ACCS child wellbeing applications will now be processed by Services Australia, ensuring a single point of contact for providers, and minimising the risk of gaps in entitlements.
Moreover, there are three new exceptional circumstances that allow for extended backdating of the subsidy including:
- children in formal foster care
- families experiencing homelessness
- families affected by the harmful use of alcohol or drugs.
These changes provide additional time to collect necessary evidence and ensure that children do not fall through the gaps.
These changes represent a positive step towards ensuring the well-being of vulnerable children and families by simplifying access to the ACCS.
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