Enrolments

Funding

Unfortunately, it’s near impossible for any parent to calculate the actual out-of-pocket expense of using child care without help from either the government agency or a child care centre. The amount each centre charges, your personal circumstances, the financial benefits and rebates available all vary from case to case, making accurate estimation difficult.
Choklits Child Care is registered as a provider of “Approved Care”, meaning we comply with the Commonwealth Government requirements to be eligible for the Child Care Benefit (CCB) and 50% Child Care Rebate (CCR).

Individual families and their children are eligible for different levels of subsidies under these two schemes. The determining eligibility factors include your level of income, the number of your children you have in care, the amount of care you use and the reason they are in care. Please also note that if your child is not immunised they will not qualify for any rebate or financial assistance under these schemes unless they have a valid exemption.

Choklits provides all families with current and accurate information regarding CCB and CCR, but to be eligible for either you must first be registered with your Family Assistance Office. Choklits Management asks all families to please contact your Family Assistance Office to be assessed for Child Care Benefit and the 50% Child Care Rebate prior to beginning care.

For more information please visit familyassist.gov.au, your Medicare or Centrelink office, or call 13 61 50.

Child Care Benefit

Under the Child Care Management System (CCMS), the Government provides Choklits with each family’s approval details directly, which is why each family must be assessed for the child care benefit by the Family Assistance Office.

The CCR provides eligible families with a 50% rebate of their out-of-pocket child care fees, to a maximum of $7,500 per child per annum. That is, 50% of the total fees paid after deducting the CCB referred to above.

It is currently not means tested, and this means that eligible families may be entitled to receive this, even if their CCB % rate is zero. CCR can also be paid to us directly just select the option “pay to service”.

Further information can be found at familyassist.gov.au or this fact sheet.

Contacting Family Assistance Office

Choklits has a funded four-year-old kindergarten program run by Wei Xing who holds a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education. Our Kindergarten programs are the same as council run Kindergartens and private schools. The difference is we operate from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, are open 52 weeks of the year including all school holidays and cater for all family and work situations.

The Choklits daily rate includes bedding, nappies, all meals (breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and snacks), a welcome pack when your child joins the centre and a Christmas present as part of our end of year celebrations. We also include both our regular incursions and excursions in the rate including a weekly sports program, music and movement classes and yoga tuition, plus library excursions and language classes for our kindergarten children along with a portfolio of all your child’s work which they complete throughout the year.

On their first day, children can attend with a parent and spend a short time at Choklits together, before you can then leave your child for a couple of hours. We judge each situation differently, but if the staff feel your child needs further orientation they will arrange more time.
We use this first visit to complete the required information sheets, including contact numbers for both parents, emergency numbers and all other relevant information about your child.

ARRIVAL & PICK UP TIMES
Although there are many children who start early, we like all children to be present by 9.30 am, allowing them to enjoy all of the morning’s formal program. A child arriving late when the group is already in session can making settling in harder. It is also important to try and arrive at the same time each day to pick your child up, as they do get used to a routine – they feel more secure if they know, for example, that Mummy or Daddy comes each day after afternoon tea. You are always welcome to ring Chokilts and speak with your room leader at any time during the day to check on your child.

SIGNING IN AND OUT
When dropping off children, parents must come into the Centre with their child, and sign the roll in their child’s room. When leaving Choklits you must also sign your child out as both are government requirements.

SAYING GOODBYE
Some children do get distressed when their parents leave them. This is quite normal behaviour at first, but usually disappears as the child becomes more used to his/her surroundings. Often the tears stop as soon as the parent has left. When the time comes for separation, it is best not to prolong the goodbyes, but reassure your child that you will return. As your child becomes more secure and safe in the knowledge that you will return, the moment or separation becomes less stressful.

ABSENT DAYS
If your child is away on any day, or arriving later than 9:30am, we ask that you please phone us as early as possible so we ensure everyone is accounted and catered for.

WHO CAN COLLECT YOUR CHILD
It is our policy that no child attending Choklits can be picked up by persons other than those authorised on the enrolment form, unless previous arrangements have been made with us. Please remember to inform us if someone else is picking up your child.

For additional information, please send us an email kids@choklits.com.au.