Currently the Australian Government offers a range of types of financial support to assist parents
and carers with the cost of child care, including the Child Care Benefit, which assists with the cost of
child care services, and the Child Care Rebate, which assists with other out-of-pocket expenses
associated with work-related child care services. Additionally, in recent years the Australian
Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a review of early childhood education
and care, which sought to make child care more affordable, flexible and accessible for Australian
families. The inquiry has been completed and a final report was provided to the Australian
Government in October 2014 and released on 20 February 2015. For more information, see
www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/completed/childcare.