Free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

Cool! Thanks for that, Nikki!

Yep, I use the student creche at Fairlie Terrace. I love it! Jean Sunko is fantastic

My friend Kelly works at Tui House part time. She always tells me about the kids there Get's some hilarious comments about "funny unnies" (One kid spotted her g-string)

Does that mean you or hubby are staff at Vic?

oooh exciting - wish that was in right now

until now we have been fully subsidised because of our income... which is all well and good, except my money i have been putting on top of my student loan of $150 a week (i know it has bumped up my student loan a heap but it pays the bills) that stops as of next week - as does my childcare subsidy. and heres the prob.. cos i can't get a job till at least a months time, which means about 6 weeks with no extra income coming in - but being expected to pay daycare now - so $300 a week more bills. and, it's just not gonna work. I figured out that we can survive with $27 over a week until i get a job - but that was not factoring in the childcare.

I know currently we are about $500 in credit there because we weren't always fully subsidised, but once the thresholds etc went up we have still kept paying that $40 a week anyway.... but hey - that will only really pay for a week and a half. I think my first paycheck won't be going towards much celebrating of any type.

I was able to keep Andrew in Daycare while I was not working as I was in between jobs anf then I decided to study. You should be able to keep the subsidy as I know we did. Ask your daycare (which one you at?) if they can keep the space for a month until you go into fulltime work.

From the WINZ Casebook (MAP)...
Qualifications

A client may be able to receive assistance for subsidised childcare of up to 9 hours a week if:

    * they are the principal caregiver of a dependent child
    * they meet an income test
    * the child is under 5 years old or

under 6 years old if the child is one for whom a Child Disability Allowance is paid or

aged 5 years old but not yet attending a school (Childcare Subsidy payable for 4 weeks after the child turns 5 years old)

    * the child attends a licensed pre-school facility
    * the child attends for at least 3 hours per week
    * they are a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident (ie not be in New Zealand unlawfully or here on temporary permit) and
    * generally be ordinarily resident in New Zealand


...the up to 50 hours per week subsidy requires the work activity etc. So, it may not cover all of the hours, but 9 hours subsidy per week per kiddie is better than none.

I'm sure they could make an allowance for you if you are job seeking. They seem to be able to swing heaps of things like that, providing you ask.
Good luck with your appointment and I hope they continue the subsidy, seems a bit rude not to.