Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a sustainable and significant childcare benefit to the permanent team members of The Akidamy School of Early Learning. This benefit is designed to help our educators and staff balance their professional and personal lives while ensuring the long-term financial health and regulatory integrity of the School. It serves as a retention tool, ensuring that the School's investment in its workforce is protected through clear return-to-work obligations and strict financial compliance. 

Eligibility and Participation

Permanent full-time or part-time employees with at least five months of continuous service are eligible (the School Director is exempt). This policy is not available to casual employees.

• Minimum Attendance: To be eligible for this benefit, a child must be enrolled for and attend a minimum of two days per week.
• Good Standing Requirement: The discount is a performance-linked privilege. Employees must remain in "Good Standing" to receive or maintain the subsidy.

Definition of Good Standing

An employee is considered to be in "Good Standing" when they consistently meet the following criteria:

• Conduct: The employee has no current formal disciplinary warnings on their file and is not currently undergoing a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP).
• Attendance: The employee maintains a reliable attendance record and adheres to the School’s notification procedures for any absences.
• Professionalism: The employee consistently adheres to The Akidamy’s Code of Conduct, policies, and values.
• Compliance: The employee is up to date with all mandatory training and certifications.

Unified Fee Schedule

To maintain total transparency and regulatory compliance, The Akidamy operates a single fee schedule. The daily Gross Fee charged to staff members is exactly the same as the rate published and charged to all enrolled families. Staff do not receive a "reduced base rate"; instead, the benefit is provided as a School contribution towards the Gap Fee after the standard Gross Fee is applied.

Understanding Your Fees (Key Terms)

• Gross Fee: The standard market price of the daily session ($215.00), identical for both families and staff.
• CCS (Child Care Subsidy): The amount the Australian Government pays the School toward your fees.
• The Gap Fee: The amount left over after the CCS has been deducted from the Gross Fee.
• Cost to Staff (OOP): Your final out-of-pocket cost. This is the amount you pay from your bank account after both CCS and the Akidamy Staff Discount have been applied.

Session Structure and Entry Benefits

The School utilises specific session lengths to help staff maximise their CCS entitlements:

• 1–4 Days per Week: Children attend 11-hour sessions (Minimum 2 days required).
• 5 Days per Week: Children attend 10-hour sessions (The Staff Value Session).
• Entry Benefits: Waitlist fees are waived for staff. Enrolment fees and Bonds remain mandatory and must be paid in full to secure a place.

The Discount and Fixed $40.00 Cap

A 50% discount is applied to the Gap Fee. The Akidamy’s contribution is strictly capped at $40.00 per child, per day. To ensure sustainability, the $40.00 cap is a constant figure. As School daily rates increase over time, this cap remains fixed and will not increase in line with fee adjustments.

Policy Scenarios: Estimated Cost to Staff

Estimates based on a $215.00 daily fee and 2025–26 CCS Rate Caps.

Combined Income	Attendance	The Gap Fee (Daily)	School Pays (Daily)	Cost to Staff (Daily OOP)	Annual School Benefit
$80K	2 Days (11h)	$54.16	$27.08	$27.08	$2,816.32
	5 Days (10h)	$68.70	$34.35	$34.35	$8,931.00
$150K	2 Days (11h)	$91.08	$40.00	$51.08	$4,160.00
	5 Days (10h)	$131.46	$40.00	$91.46	$10,400.00
$300K	2 Days (11h)	$139.36	$40.00	$99.36	$4,160.00
	5 Days (10h)	$175.46	$40.00	$135.46	$10,400.00
$550K+	2 Days (11h)	$215.00	$40.00	$175.00	$4,160.00
(Above Cap)	5 Days (10h)	$215.00	$40.00	$175.00	$10,400.00

Maternity Leave and Return to Work Obligations

The Akidamy invests in your return to the team. The following conditions apply:

• 12-Month Limit: The discount is maintained for a maximum of 12 months. Extensions result in the subsidy stopping immediately unless approved by The Akidamy in writing.
• Failure to Return: If you do not return to work following maternity leave, you are required to repay the childcare subsidy in full to the Company.
• Retention Commitment: If you return but do not remain employed with the Company for a minimum of 12 months post-maternity leave, you must pay back in full all childcare subsidies received during your absence and care period.
• Withdrawal during Leave: If you withdraw your child from care during maternity leave, you will be required to pay the re-deposit and enrolment fees to secure a future place. However, the waitlist fee will not be required.

Financial Compliance and Repayment Terms

• No Payment Plans: The Akidamy does not offer payment plans for any money owed. All fees, debts, or overpayment recoveries must be paid in full immediately.
• Direct Debit and Advance Payments: All staff must utilise the School’s Direct Debit system. Accounts must be maintained two weeks in advance.
• Automatic Reimbursement: Acceptance of this benefit is based on the premise that any overpayment discovered on an account (including CCS reconciliations) will be paid back to the School automatically.
• Employee Responsibility: You must inform Centrelink of your income. Any error or debt generated by regulatory authorities is your sole expense. No discount will be applied while an account is in arrears.

Termination and Adjustments

The discount ends on your final date of employment. Should an employee provide notice of resignation, the discount will cease effectively on the last day of physical work.

Disclaimer Clause

The Akidamy School of Early Learning reserves the right to review, amend, or withdraw this policy at any time, without prior notice, to ensure alignment with company financial performance, operational requirements, or changes to Australian Government legislation. Participation in this discount program does not constitute a permanent contractual right to a specific fee reduction. All final decisions regarding eligibility and repayment obligations rest with the School Founders .

Staff Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is the daily fee for staff the same as for families? To ensure we remain fully compliant with Australian Government Family Assistance Law, The Akidamy maintains a single, unified fee schedule. By charging the same Gross Fee to everyone, we ensure that your Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is calculated accurately and legally. Your benefit is provided as a generous School contribution toward your Gap Fee, rather than a reduction of the base rate.
What exactly is the "Gap Fee"? The Gap Fee is simply the amount left over after the government pays its portion (CCS) of the daily fee. For example, if the fee is $215 and your CCS pays $150, the Gap Fee is $65.
How does the 50% discount and the $40 cap work together? We look at your daily Gap Fee and calculate 50% of that amount:

• If 50% of your gap is less than $40 (e.g., $30), the School pays the $30.
• If 50% of your gap is more than $40 (e.g., $60), the School pays the maximum cap of $40. This allows us to provide a high-value benefit (up to $10,400 a year) while keeping the School financially secure.

Why is the $40 cap "fixed"? By keeping the cap at a constant $40, the School can guarantee this benefit remains available even if external costs or inflation rise. It provides the School with a predictable budget, which in turn provides you with long-term job security and a reliable benefit you can count on year after year.
What happens to my OOP (Out-of-Pocket) cost if the School daily fee increases? Because the $40 School contribution is fixed, if the daily fee increases, your Out-of-Pocket cost will increase by the amount of the fee rise (minus any additional CCS the government might cover). This ensures the School can continue to provide high-quality resources and environments for your children.
What if I have an overpayment or debt on my account? The Akidamy has a strict "No Payment Plan" policy. Any money owed to the School—whether due to a CCS adjustment by Centrelink or an administrative error—must be paid back in full immediately. To protect the School's integrity, the staff discount will be suspended until the account is cleared in full.
What are my obligations if I take maternity leave? You may keep the discount for up to 12 months while on leave. However, this is an investment in your return to the team. If you do not return to work, or if you return but leave before completing 12 months of service post-maternity leave, you will be required to repay all childcare subsidies received during your absence in full.