Families will recommence paying childcare fees in most parts of the country from Monday as the Morrison government's support measures come to an end.
The government is ending its emergency free childcare package on 13 July, and instead there will be a $708 million transition package worth a quarter of the sector's pre-crisis revenue.
Labor's early childhood education spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth believes the decision to return to a pre-pandemic system has left many families wondering how they will get by.
She says the cost of child care was crippling before the pandemic with out-of-pocket costs soaring by 7.2 per cent in one year alone.
"Many parents are doing it tough and will need to decide if they pay the childcare fees or pull their kids out of care altogether," Ms Rishworth told reporters on Sunday.
"It's at the worst time when families need support."
However, there is some relief for families in Victoria's lockdown areas in metropolitan Melbourne.
Free sessional kindergarten for eligible children living in locked-down areas will be offered for term three.
The funding guarantees $460 for each eligible child enrolled in a funded kindergarten program.
Eligible kindergarten services outside of these areas will get half that subsidy.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits.
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