Extra child care support for more than 5000 families across Farrer has arrived, with the start of the Coalition Government’s new child care system.

Local MP Sussan Ley said for too long busy working families have struggled with the cost of child care and a system which has restricted someone’s ability to work the hours and days which suit them.

“These reforms mean more subsidies for families working the most and earning the least, scrapping the annual rebate cap for many, as well as an hourly rate cap which will help keep downward pressure on fees.”

“In Farrer 5,274 families are set to benefit, many of those will be hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year better off under these reforms”, Ms Ley said.

Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the changes will inject an extra $2.5 billion into the child care system and are set to benefit almost one million families nation-wide.

“We’re also introducing an activity test to ensure subsidies are targeted to those who depend on child care in order to work, train, study or volunteer, or those looking for work or want to work additional hours.

“This better reflects the needs of modern Australian families and their desire to base child care around work, rather than making work suit their child care,” Simon Birmingham said.

If families haven’t made the switch yet, they should visit www.education.gov.au/childcare or update their details on myGov to benefit from the new system. Back payments of the new Child Care Subsidy for up to three months are available for families who are yet to make the switch.