Cost of Childcare and Maternity Hospitals in Brisbane

[ZimMom]

Hello all,
I have two questions for you. We're moving out to Brisbane in November this year from Ireland and I'm trying to get an idea on what the cost of creche would be for my son. He'll be 2 and as he's been attending creche here full time, I'd like him to at least go mornings only (assuming I'm going to be working part - I don't want to go full time). I think he'd be bored silly staying at home with me. It's also a way for me to meet other moms etc. If anyone can give me an idea on what sort of costs I'm looking at - and what the options are, ie. mornings only, full time and if they do a couple of days a week, etc. We'll be on a 457 visa, so I don't think we qualify for any childcare assistance yet. It'll be a year to 18 months before we get our PR.

My other question is that I am hoping to become pregnant again soon and so need to find out the cost of having a baby. Again, I don't think we'll be covered by medicare and even though dh's new company are paying for private medical aid, I'm not sure if maternity is covered. What are the public and private hospitals like? I'm still trying to convince dh about this second baby, so I need to have all the facts since he'll probably have to foot the entire bill. I don't really want to wait until we're permanent residents as I'm forty in two weeks time, so don't really have a huge amount of time to spare!!!

I'm thinking we'll be living on the north side. I like the look of Everton Hills, Eatons Hills, etc.

Any info would be very welcome.

Many thanks,
Amanda. :)

[amandaw]

Sorry can't help with costs of things, but the closest privae hspital (which I've heard is very good :thumbsup:) to that area is Northwest Private at Everton Park.

[Seekrit]

Can't help you out with birthing costs, but as for childcare...
most centres are $60 - $80/day... home/family day care is normally around the $5 - $6/hour mark

[darcey]

Hi ZimMom

By now you must have arrived in Oz, just saw this thread and wondered if you got your answers? We are also on a 457 and all our maternity costs were covered through medicare, I had bub at the Royal Brisbane as a public patient and all went fine.

Re day care costs - I pay approx $70 a day as you're right, on a 457 you pay full costs for childcare.

Hope you all settled in Oz.

[ZimMom]

Hi darcey,
Many thanks for your info. Yes we're here now and have settled in Arana Hills. DS is in day care 2 days a week - nice place, $60 a day and they supply all his meals. I'm not working at all so we can't really justify or afford to send him any more often.

I'm pregnant now - 16 weeks - and booked into North West Private Hospital - all being paid through my husband's private medical health insurance. How did you get medicare to pay for you? We've been told that on a 457 you're not covered for anything.

How old is your new baby? Congrats by the way.

Many thanks again for the info.
All the best, ZimMom.

[darcey]

My lovely DD is now 7months old, congrats on your pregnancy,my friend has had 3 babies at North West and has had good experiences there I believe. I'm thinking that maybe the difference re the medicare is that we are from N. Ireland? As the UK has the recipricol health agreement with Oz we qualify for all costs associated with 'necessary treatment' and so maternity costs are covered by that. Not sure if thats the reason, but certainly it didn't cost us anything at all and we've had a medicare card from when we arrived almost 3 years ago now.

You must be due around August then? Thats when I had bub last year, at least its a much cooler time of year!