16468 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

16468 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Have there been any changes since 1 November 2023 to eligibility criteria, or assessment and decision-making processes, in relation to applications for the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment; if so, what were they and when did they come into effect?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised that from 1 April 2024, the maximum rate of the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment was set to align with the highest Childcare Subsidy rate and would change each year with the annual general adjustment. I am further advised that from 3 June 2025, the Guaranteed Childcare Assistance Payment Programme was amended to ensure it could be paid for top-up payments required by educators for children attending licensed home-based Early Childhood Education (ECE) services that were funded under the 20 hours ECE policy.