Making childcare affordable for working parents
The voice
I’m working, raising a child — and childcare is still too expensive.
While visiting Golden Square in Burnley, I spoke with a young mother spending the public holiday with her child. It is a question many families are asking.
The background
FactChildcare is supposed to help parents return to work and support their families. But even after subsidies, some families still face significant out-of-pocket costs — particularly when they need several days of long day care each week.
In Yarra, council-run long day care fees in 2026 are currently around $163–$167 per day before the Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy is applied. For some families, that can make the decision to increase their working hours much harder.
Where it stands today
FactLast updated: 25 September 2026
The Commonwealth Government provides the main Child Care Subsidy, while Victoria provides Free Kinder through participating services.
In Victoria, funded Three-Year-Old Kinder, Four-Year-Old Kinder and Pre-Prep can receive Free Kinder support. Families using participating long day care services receive the Victorian funding as a reduction against their fees rather than necessarily receiving the entire day of childcare free.
Victoria is also developing 50 government-owned Early Learning Victoria centres by 2032. The currently confirmed locations are concentrated in areas assessed as having greater unmet childcare need, and Burnley is not among the currently announced locations.
What remains unresolved?
The Victorian Parliament cannot simply rewrite the Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy. But the state does have levers. For Burnley and the wider Richmond district, the questions worth pursuing are:
- Do we have enough affordable childcare places?
- Are existing Free Kinder programs actually reducing families’ total childcare bills enough?
- Could additional public or community-based childcare capacity be justified locally?
- Should Victoria provide additional targeted assistance where working families still face large childcare gaps?
- Are shortages of educators or places preventing parents from accessing care even when they can afford it?
Proposed response
Proposed responseBefore promising another program, the first step should be getting the evidence — listening to local parents, childcare operators, educators and Yarra Council, and establishing:
- How much are Burnley families actually paying?
- How long are local waiting lists?
- How many families cannot get the days they need?
- How many parents are reducing their working hours because childcare does not stack up financially?
Those numbers can then be taken directly to the Victorian Government when arguing for additional services, funding or policy changes.
Who can fix it?
Commonwealth Child Care Subsidy; Victorian Free Kinder and Early Learning Victoria; Yarra Council services
The outcome we are seeking
More affordable and accessible childcare for Burnley families, with enough local places to meet the needs of working parents.
Progress tracker
Progress- Raised
- Investigating
- Action sought
- Action underway
- Resolved
- Done: Concern raised at Golden Square, Burnley
- Not yet: Local cost and waiting-list evidence gathered
- Not yet: Evidence taken to the Victorian Government
Current status: Raised · Last updated: 25 September 2026
Sources and documents
- Yarra City Council — Long day care fees, 2026
- Victorian Government — Free Kinder
- Victorian Government — Early Learning Victoria centres
- Commonwealth Government — Child Care Subsidy
Have your say
- Are childcare costs affecting your family?
- What do you currently pay?
- How many days of care do you need?
- Can you get a place locally?
- Has childcare cost stopped you or your partner from working additional hours?
Your experience helps build a clearer picture of what Burnley families actually need.
