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Medicare Australia - Australian Government

Family Assistance Office

Important changes to the Child Care Tax Rebate

To find out more visit the Child Care Tax RebateExternal link website or call the Family Assistance Office on 13 61 50.

Extended Family Assistance services

Australians can now access extended Family Assistance services at their local Medicare office. A joint initiative between the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Medicare Australia and Centrelink that started on 1 July 2005, now sees all 238 Medicare offices offering extended Family Assistance services.

The Family Assistance Office

Family Assistance OfficeExternal link is provided by the Australian Government through partnership arrangements between Medicare Australia, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), Centrelink and the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).

The Family Assistance Office provides families with Family Tax Benefit Part A, Family Tax Benefit Part B, Child Care Benefit, Baby Bonus and Maternity Immunisation Allowance.

There are around 550 Family Assistance Offices across Australia, located in:

  • All Medicare offices
  • Centrelink customer service centres
  • Tax Office shopfronts.

To find out more information about the Family Assistance Office visit: Family Assistance Office's websiteExternal link

When you visit your local Medicare office, you can now also access Family Assistance services at the same time. You can:

  • apply for the Baby Bonus payment — your claim must be lodged within 26 weeks of the child's birth
  • apply for the Family Tax Benefit (Part A), Family Tax Benefit (Part B), Child Care Benefit or Maternity Immunisation Allowance
  • lodge Family Assistance forms (including claims)
  • let the Family Assistance Office know about a change in income and/or circumstances
  • consider 'what if' scenarios in terms of payment choices
  • make an appointment to see a specialist Family Assistance Officer
  • find out more about the Family Assistance Office

Or you can call 136 150 between 8am and 8pm (local time) Monday to Friday or visit the Family Assistance Office's websiteExternal link

Last updated: 20 October, 2008

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