In the past 4 years of living in Australia my husband and I have encountered many other migrants making similar moves as ourselves: a big move with a young family on the way. Given that the average age of an immigrant adult is 35 years, a family on the move is usual. The settling and adjusting to this type of move can mean many changes, either permanent or temporary, to family life.
House husbands, women taking on the small family mortgage, two parents working part-time jobs are just a few of the immigrant family starting points we’ve encountered.
Our Story
Upon arriving in Brisbane, I quickly found a casual job in my field of work: lecturing and writing. Working three days a week at a language institute, not a state school, didn’t require me to study for any further local qualifications or licenses. However, one of the surprises for many migrants is that some jobs do require you to do further qualifications before you can practice in your field of work. Even though the skilled migration board has said you have all the qualifications you need; there may be a need to do more.
Given that I was 4 months pregnant I was lucky to find work so quickly and with the flexibility for antenatal care. What I gave up when we moved from Switzerland was a secure job, maternity pay, private healthcare and an environment with people and family that I knew. It was a risk.
My husband started his first job 2 weeks after the birth of our son on a temporary contract. 6 months later he got a 6 month renewable contract. He gave up an excellent income with high levels of job security, perks, private health care, you name it. Our starting point here in Australia was not glamorous or easy and I wouldn’t say we were the kind of people who take stability for granted or unnecessary risks.
Once our child was 15 months old, we decided to look at day care options and start exploring the local Queensland school system. Whilst each state differs, this article does present a broad overview of Day Care and Education options available. Hopefully it will prompt you to continue with your own research.
Types of Day Care
There are 4 main childcare providers here in Australia: C&K, Local Community Care, ABC Care Centers and the Family Day Care Association. There are also some occasional day care centers where you only need to book a week in advance and pay per hour.
Each Care association varies in style, opening hours, structure, philosophy, capacity and nature. What they do have in common is the stipulated regulations in terms of health and safety regulations, qualifications of Careers (Blue Card holders), ratio of care staff to children etc.
Typically children are organized according to age; there are classrooms and an outdoor shaded play area. The fees decrease as the children reach the Kindergarten year (aged 3.5 years until prep year aged 5)
Some centers are long day care, opening at 7am and closing at 6pm and are open all year round, the daily rate is the daily rate. Others follow the school semester. With places, priority goes to moms who are returning to work, first, then ‘mother’s rest’ care, second.
The fees are means tested, that is calculated on earnings. The most expensive all-day care fees I’ve seen are 70$ a day and the cheapest are 35$, with family day care having a hourly rate of 7$. There is a 30% tax rebate on these fees and as mentioned they are reduced further depending on your income.
Places at child care are in demand, particularly in state capitals. It is worth visiting all the care options in your area and putting your name down on the list at several, being prepared to wait or take the days available.
Financially, one of the big complaints is that in some lines of work it isn’t financially worth working and sending your child to care as you barely cover the fees. When working there is also a decrease in family assistance (child payment given by government to all families).
Immunizations
There is quite a list of immunizations recommended here in Australia. Immunizations are recommended not compulsory. Day care centers will ask for your child’s record to see that you are up to date. Often older children arriving from overseas need to have extra vaccinations and can do so in the same way as younger children do: at the doctors or free immunization clinics.
Babysitters
The ideal is to have good friends and neighbors to do exchanges with once you know each other and each other’s children. Alternatively a recommended and registered baby sitter is ideal. The average fee is 16$ per hour. We asked at our children’s day care centre if any staff did some baby sitting in their free time.
Early Years At School
There is a ‘prep year’ (preparation for school) for children in the year they turn five. This has recently come into place. The prep year is available in private and public schools as well as at some Day Care centers. At public schools it is free and there are guaranteed places for all children. It is full-time but isn’t compulsory in all states as yet.
It is of course a good idea to put your name down at the school you hope your child will be attending. The prep year is still play based learning and the start of formal reading and writing comes in Grade one.
Grade 1 to Year 5 are often then spent at the same school. Year 5-9 are sometimes grouped as a middle school and then High School is year 10 to Year 12. After year 12 is university. Schools do vary in terms of Curriculum, extra curriculum activities, sports facilities and homework.
Some schools offer after school and pre-school care for parents who have working hours outside of school hours. These are often but not always, on the school premises. If the care is away from the school building, the children are bused with their minders. There is the start of a lean towards using this time for a homework club rather than recreational time. Currently there are a lot of sports events and sports practice run by high schools at the weekend and parents spend most of their weekends being a taxi, again this has initiated a push for after school practices at the end of the study day. Similarly, to after and preschool, some schools offer holiday care with a special activity program.
Choice Of school
Public State schools are free and typically places are given to the children in that district. Private schools are categorized by religion: Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and then there are prestigious schools: boys and girls’ Grammar, plus a range of other co-education and boarding schools. Scholarships are available but some are by year rather than one exam at entry point. Fees range from 2000$ per year to 12,000$ at private schools so it is worth looking into.
Typically there is a tendency for schools to rely on parent participation: help with reading for the early years, tuck shop, excursions and fund raising for even some basics equipment such as air conditioning. Parents do need to equip their children with uniforms, sports kits, books and lunch.
In terms of the financial management, a lot of state funding even goes to private schools so state schools do feel like they operate on the bare minimum. State schools do have good teaching all the same. However, another aspect of the management of state schools is that the head doesn’t typically have the ability to hire and fire permanent staff. Australian teachers, once trained, go to the outback to cut their teeth. Once they’ve proven themselves they have a job for life in the education department.
Schools are typically resourceful and can point you in the right direction if your children have adjustment difficulties, learning difficulties, behavioral adjustment issues or you need more family help.
Resources:
More information about the Writer: www.writeup.com.au or email: contact@writeup.com.au
Types of Childcare in Brisbane: http://directory.ourbrisbane.com/directory/leaf_categories/10417.html
C and K Child Care: www.candk.asn.au
ABC Child Care: www.childcare.com.au/ourfamily/dod-details.php
Queensland Education: http://education.qld.gov.au/
Baby Sitters Australia: www.findababysitter.com.au
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