Imagine having your Child Care Subsidy significantly reduced overnight. Not because your income has increased or your childcare needs have changed, but simply because your eldest child turns six.

That’s exactly what’s happening to our family.

My husband and I spent a long time trying to conceive our second son. Like many Australian families, the age gap between our children wasn’t entirely within our control.

Now, despite our circumstances remaining unchanged, our youngest son’s childcare subsidy is being reduced.

For families experiencing a similar reduction, this could mean approximately $1,000–$4,000 (annually) in additional childcare fees over 48 weeks, depending on attendance and fees.

We’ve already paid years of childcare fees for our eldest, just like families with children closer in age. Now we’re paying those costs all over again. Why should the spacing between our children determine the assistance we receive?

We recognise that families with multiple young children in care face additional financial pressures. But families with larger age gaps shouldn’t be overlooked, particularly when infertility, pregnancy loss or circumstances beyond their control have influenced when their children arrived.

We’re calling on the Australian Government to review the age-six cutoff for the Higher Child Care Subsidy and consider a fairer system that recognises different family circumstances.

A child’s sixth birthday doesn’t suddenly reduce a family’s financial responsibilities.

Please sign and share if you believe all Australian families deserve a fairer childcare subsidy system.

Financial estimates are illustrative, based on $150 daily childcare fees and a 14.58-percentage-point subsidy reduction.