If you are interested in using our service, you are encouraged to drop in and visit so that you can see the Centre in operation and fill in a Waiting List Form. We will accept applications from families prior to the birth of your child, as long as the pregnancy has been confirmed and you have an estimated date of delivery.
Waiting List Process
Any family who is on the waiting list will remain there until they are ready for their child to be placed in our care, that is, if you decline an offered position you will not forfeit your place on the list. You will not be offered again for at least 3 months but your name will remain on the list until you accept a place, your child becomes too old or you withdraw your name for your own reasons. If you do not contact us within 3 days of an offer your place will be re-offered to another family. If you have not made contact with us within 3 months of an offer, your name will be removed from the waiting list. It is helpful if you keep in touch with the Directors while your name is on the waiting list to advise of any changes to contact information, the amount of care required, or the date for care to start. There is an administration fee payable of $50 prior to the processing of your application.
Allocation of Places
For John Street to remain financially viable, we have to fill places vacated as soon as possible. We, therefore, attempt to fill vacancies as they occur. Places are offered according to the Federal Government’s Priority of Access guidelines. These guidelines give priority of placement to:
children at risk of serious abuse or neglect.
workforce participants, where a single parent or both parents are employed, seeking employment, or studying or training for future employment.
children or parents with a continuing disability or incapacity.
parents at home with more than one child below school age and single parents at home.
We also give priority to children on the waiting list who have siblings already at the centre and to past users of our service and families who live or work in Yarra.
Regardless of your nominated days on your application, if you are next on the wait list and your child’s age fits into the vacancy you will be offered care.
Acceptance of a Place
Once you have accepted a place, paperwork will be organised and forwarded to you for completion prior to the commencement of care. You will be directed to log on to your mygovaccount to register for any Government Subsidies you may be entitled to (Subsidies are based on combined family annual income and hours of work). The first 2 weeks of fees will be charged at a full fee rate and must be paid prior to your child’s commencement date. Your weekly fee may be recalculated once your entitlements are determined, as subsidies are paid directly to the centre. The complete orientation process will be tailored individually to suit the needs of you and your child. Spending time with your child at the centre in the early days is important for both of you to gain confidence and trust, through getting to know the staff, other children and centre routines and environment.