We’re thrilled to announce that The Parks Occasional Care is now eligible for the Start Strong Preschool Fee Relief for Long Day Care in 2025! This initiative is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to making early education more affordable and accessible for families across the state.
What is the Start Strong fee relief program?
The Start Strong program provides financial support to families by offering fee reductions for children enrolled in eligible early learning programs. For 2025, families can access up to $2,174 in fee relief per year for children aged 4 and above, and up to $515 per year for children aged 3 in eligible long day care or occasional care services.
This initiative aims to ease the financial burden of early childhood education and ensure more children benefit from high-quality preschool programs before transitioning to primary school.
Who is eligible for the Start Strong preschool fee relief?
To be eligible for the Start Strong fee relief in 2025, a child must:
be at least 3 years old on or before 31 July 2025 to receive up to $515 in fee relief or be at least 4 years old on or before 31 July 2025 to receive up to $2,174 in fee relief;
be enrolled in an eligible long day care or Occasional Care centre; and
not be receiving fee relief from another service.
All NSW families are eligible for the Start Strong fee relief, regardless of their citizenship or residency status. This funding is separate from and does not affect Child Care Subsidy (CCS) payments.
How is fee relief calculated at our occasional care centre?
As part of the Start Strong program, families using our Occasional Care services can now access fee relief, which will be evenly distributed throughout the year and applied directly to your child care fees.
At our centre, which operates 48 weeks per year, this equates to:
Up to $45.29 per week for children who are at least 4 years old on or before 31 July 2025.
Up to $10.73 per week for children who are 3 years old and not yet 4 years old on or before 31 July 2025.
What if your child starts later in the year?
Children who start later in the year are still eligible for Start Strong fee relief. The weekly reduction will be applied for the weeks your child is enrolled and attending care, ensuring you receive the benefit for the time your child is in the program.
How to access the Start Strong preschool fee relief in 2025
To access the Start Strong fee relief in 2025, you need to:
1. Complete a Fee Relief Declaration and Consent Form
Fill out a fee relief declaration and consent form for every service your child is enrolled in.
2. Nominate Your Preferred Service
Choose one participating long day care or occasional care service to receive the fee relief. Fee relief can only be applied to one service at a time.
3. Return the Completed Form
Submit the completed form(s) to your chosen child care service to finalise your application.
Start your journey with us in 2025
At The Parks Occasional Care, we provide a nurturing, engaging environment where children can grow and thrive. With the Start Strong Preschool Fee Relief program, high-quality early education is now more affordable and accessible than ever.
What makes The Parks Occasional Care truly stand out is our flexibility. Unlike traditional long day care centres, we understand that families have unique schedules and varying needs. That’s why we offer:
Flexible session options: Choose between 5-hour, 6-hour, or full-day (8-hour) sessions to suit your schedule.
Flexible enrolment schedules: Book care only when you need it, making us an ideal choice for families with irregular work hours or changing commitments.
Affordable childcare: Pay only for the hours you need, helping you maximise your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) and reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
Our program is designed to help your child develop a love of learning while preparing them for their future success in school and beyond. With the Start Strong Preschool Fee Relief program, combined with our flexible and tailored approach to childcare, quality early education is now within reach for more families.
Join us at The Parks Occasional Care in 2025 and experience the difference of flexible, affordable, and nurturing childcare. Contact us today to learn more or arrange a visit!
This page was last updated on 17 December 2024. Any changes to the Start Strong fee relief or the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) after this date may not be reflected here. Please refer to the NSW Department of Education’s website and Services Australia's website for the latest updates.
