Family & kids: Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Subsidy, Parental Leave Pay and getting married

If you have Medicare, antenatal care and birth in a public hospital are covered; start with a GP referral. Employees can take unpaid parental leave, and eligible parents can get the government's Parental Leave Pay. After the birth, claim Family Tax Benefit through myGov, and apply for the Child Care Subsidy when your child starts child care. Temporary visa families without Medicare should check their insurance waiting periods first. Each step links to a verified guide and the official source.

Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the Australian Government's child care payment. It is paid directly to the child care service you use, so you pay less in fees. Your subsidy percentage depends on your family income, and there is an hourly rate cap. From 5 January 2026, the 3 Day Guarantee gives eligible families at least 72 hours of subsidised care per fortnight. CCS only covers government-approved child care, and you must meet residence rules and your child must meet immunisation requirements.

Family Tax Benefit (FTB) is a payment from the Australian Government to help families with the cost of raising children. It has two parts, Part A and Part B, and is paid by Services Australia through Centrelink. Part A is worked out for each child and depends on your family income. Part B is paid per family, to single parents or couples with one main income. You must meet residence rules (normally Australian citizenship or a permanent visa), so families on temporary visas usually cannot get it.

You do not need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to marry in Australia; visitor and student visa holders can marry too. The process: lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage with an authorised celebrant at least 1 month (and no more than 18 months) before the wedding, hold the ceremony with the celebrant and 2 adult witnesses, then apply to the BDM of the state where you married for an official marriage certificate. The cheapest option is a wedding at a state registry office: from A$482 on a weekday at the Pyrmont registry in Sydney (NSW), A$500 for the Classic package at the Melbourne registry (VIC), and A$410.60 at the Brisbane registry (QLD). Same-sex marriage is legal.

Parental Leave Pay (PLP) is money the Australian Government pays to parents of a newborn or newly adopted child under the Paid Parental Leave scheme. It is based on the national minimum wage and can be shared between parents. For children born or adopted from 1 July 2025, a family can get up to 120 days; for children born from 1 July 2026, up to 130 days. You must pass an income test, a work test and residence rules, and new residents usually wait 2 years. From July 2025, the government also pays super on it into your super fund.