Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CCB and CCR?

Child Care Benefit (CCB) is a payment from the Australian Government that helps parents with the cost of child care. The CCB is based on family income and is usually paid directly to approved child care services to reduce the fees that eligible families pay.

Child Care Rebate (CCR) helps families cover the out-of-pocket costs of child care and it is not income tested. Even if your family income is too high to receive CCB, you may be eligible for the CCR. It covers up to 50% of the out-of-pocket expenses, up to a capped amount per child per annum. Out-of-pocket child care costs are calculated after deducting any CCB payments that are received.

Eligibility criteria apply to both CCB and CCR, so please ensure that you contact the Department of Human Services.

To find more information about CCB and CCR, please visit the Department of Human Services website or call 136 150.

What is a CRN number and do I need to provide it?

The Customer Reference Number (CRN) is provided to you when you register with Centrelink for family assistance. Child care centres will require the CRN in order to process any CCB and CCR benefits that you may be entitled to (if applicable).

Will the Centres process our CCB and CCR?

Processing of CCB and CCR is at the discretion of the child care centre. The nature of casual child care bookings means that some centres may not process the CCB and CCR. PLEASE NOTE that by booking through us you agree to pay the FULL Booking Fee should the centre require you to do so.

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for further information.

How safe is my personal information?

Your personal information is very safe. We use industry leading security systems to ensure that all personal information is safe and secure.

What happens if I can't make the booked date?

If, for whatever reason, you are unable to attend the booked date, please advise us immediately. This will allow us to offer the empty spot to another family. You may be charged a Cancellation Fee depending on how much notice you provide us with. Please refer to our Cancellation Policy in the Terms and Conditions.

Who do I notify that I cannot attend the booking and how much notice do I have to provide?

Please notify us as soon as possible that you are not able to attend your booked date. It is advisable to provide us with as much notice as possible. If you provide us with less than 3 business days’ notice, then cancellation fees will apply. Please refer to the Cancellation Policy in the Terms and Conditions for more information.

Do I need to fill in the full enrolment form?

No, you don’t have to. Although we encourage you to do so to make things quicker and easier when you arrive at the centre and for future bookings with us. Centres also prefer to have the full enrolment form completed before you arrive at the centre. Once you complete the full form, you can save your details and you will not have to complete it again.

What if I am already registered at another Centre?

That is completely fine. You may still book a spot at another centre. Please be mindful that you may not be able to claim the CCB and CCR in this instance.

How will I know if my booking has been made?

Once you complete the enrolment form and pay the Deposit, you will receive a confirmation email from us confirming your booking.

What can I find out about the centre?

Empty Spot was designed to be informative and easy to use. We ensure that centres list detailed information about their facilities to provide you with as much information as possible. Empty Spot also enables you to compare each centre and make an informed decision about which centre to send your child to.

How do I pay for my child's vacancy?

To secure the empty spot you will need to pay a deposit via our secure payment gateway. The balance of the booking fee is payable at the Centre upon arrival.

How do I know the availability information is up to date?

Child care centres are encouraged to update their availabilities daily. Our website works in real time meaning that your spot is reserved whilst you are completing your enrolment form online.

Is my payment secure?

Yes. We use a secure payment gateway to process your deposit payments. Also, we do not store your credit card details on our website.

Can I book a permanent placement through Empty Spot?

Unfortunately we do not offer permanent placement at this point in time. You can however select your favourite centres for future use and you can also book multiple dates well in advance.