Tassie suburbs that are most affordable and most expensive childcare in the state

A snapshot of childcare costs across Tasmania over 12 months has revealed what areas are the cheapest — and where’s the most expensive — to send your child. FULL REPORT >>

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CHILDCARE costs in Hobart’s northwest rose almost $700 in a year ahead of the pandemic, new figures show. 

A snapshot of childcare costs across Tasmania in the 12 months to May reveals Devonport had the biggest spike in the state, with fees rising almost 8.9 per cent.

The average hourly fees for Devonport rose from $8.93 to $9.73, amounting to an almost $950 increase of annual costs from $10,501 to $11,442. 

That’s based on Tasmanian families using childcare 24.5 hours per week on average.

Childcare centre fees for Hobart’s northwestern suburbs were the state’s second most expensive on average, after Launceston.

Costs in Hobart’s northwestern suburbs rose 3.9 per cent from an average of $9.41 an hour to $9.78 an hour, or from $11,066 to $11,734 for a year of fees. 

Fees in Launceston increased 5 per cent from $9.60 an hour to $10.08 an hour on average, or from $11,289 to $11,854 for 48 standard weeks of childcare a year. 

Hobart’s south and western suburbs had some of the most affordable childcare in the state, with an average cost of $8.77 an hour or $10,313 a year.

It was the cheapest region after centres across the Huon and Bruny Island, which had an average hourly fee of $8.58 or about $10,090 for a year.

The average cost for centre-based childcare in Tasmania was $9.40 an hour, compared to $10.40 nationally.

Fees rose 4.2 per cent on average across the state over the year, according to the federal Education Department’s report for the March 2020 quarter.

Spencer Hasson, Charles Shen and Amelie Barker attend Child’s Play Early Learning in South Hobart. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Tina Palushi, owner of Child’s Play Early Learning in South Hobart, said COVID-19 had been tough financially but the centre had done everything it could to keep services running as normal for families during the pandemic.

Despite only some staff being eligible for JobKeeper and the centre’s income dropping when childcare was made free, it was able to take new enrolments and offer families extra days where possible.

“We’ve always treated it as a family,” Ms Palushi said.

Opposition early childhood education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth said fee increases nationally added to the case for lifting the child care subsidy rate to 90 per cent and scrapping the annual cap on payments.

Education Minister Dan Tehan said the current subsidy rate meant 71 per cent of parents paid less than $5 an hour for childcare, and the cost to taxpayers was $9bn a year.