That ICPA (Aust) advocate to the Minister for Early Childhood Education and the Minister for Education to honour the Federal Government’s commitment to universal childcare by applying an additional 20% Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) to geographically isolated families accessing the In Home Care (IHC) program, with eligibility assessed using the existing criteria used to determine the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) payment.
The Federal Government has stated that universal childcare is to be its lasting legacy and has committed to a “3-day guarantee” of childcare for all Australian children. However, for children growing up in geographical isolation, this commitment remains out of reach. These children are among the most disadvantaged in Australia when it comes to accessing affordable, quality early childhood education and care. Children in geographical isolation face significant social, emotional, psychological, and physical barriers to their wellbeing and development. Access to early childhood education and care is a critical protective factor against these risks. Yet the cost of In Home Care (IHC) — the only form of childcare available to many isolated families — is rapidly escalating and increasingly unaffordable.
In addition to gap fees, IHC families in geographical isolation must provide an educator with accommodation, utilities, food, and often transportation. These are unavoidable costs with no equivalent in mainstream childcare settings. The cumulative financial burden is substantial and is worsening as gap fees increase. We ask that ICPA proposes that the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) be applied at an additional rate of 20% to families accessing IHC in geographical isolation. Eligibility should be determined using the existing geographic framework used to assess eligibility for the Assistance for Isolated Children (AIC) payment, a well-established federal mechanism for identifying families in genuine geographical isolation. This approach leverages existing infrastructure and ensures the measure is targeted at families with the greatest need and fewest alternatives.
If the Federal Government’s commitment to universal childcare is to be meaningful, it must extend to children in the most isolated parts of Australia. An enhanced ACCS for IHC families in geographical isolation would be a tangible step toward making that commitment a reality.
