Call and enquire about wait lists and ask to have name put down on weigh list. Also go and have a look at centres as they vary a lot!!

Council vs private just depends what you can get where I am council lists have a 2 year wait!!! Looking at this time of year you may find it hard as they all have a high chance of being full as just start of year.

Also depends what days you need and how many you need which off course would be dependant on what you were studying and when classes were which off course you wont know yet.

Childcare rebate you get 50% back up to a certain amount of hours or $ in a year.

I will let BG answer these things!