Senate ReportInquiry into the provision of childcare
A year long Senate inquiry into child care called after the collapse of ABC Learning has just concluded and a list of recommendations has been presented to the Government.
Among other things the Senate's Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Committee has recommended additional funding for child care providers and the establishment of a statutory body to advise the Government on child care.
We've summarised the main recommendations below. It will be interesting to see how many of them are adopted by the Government in 2010.
Recommendation One
That further research be carried out regarding the possible adverse effects of starting formal child care at very young ages and for long duration, possibly in conjunction with bodies such as the Centre for Community Child Health.
Recommendation Two
That the Government makes public detailed information pertaining to the use of Commonwealth funding by state and territory governments, to clarify the scope and impact of its promise to provide universal access to 15 hours per week of preschool services for all four year-olds in Australia in the child care sector.
Recommendation Three
Noting recent funding increases, the committee nonetheless recommends further funding increases for early childhood education and care.
Recommendation Four
A substantial increase in the level of funds paid directly to child care operators in particular areas of need, through programs such as the Inclusion Support Subsidy: services for disadvantaged children, such as children with additional needs or indigenous children; and services operating in rural and remote areas or areas of high unmet demand such as low socioeconomic areas.
Recommendation Five
That economic modelling of various child care funding models be carried out to establish the most efficient means of funding the quality provision of child care services that meet the needs of families.
Recommendation Six
That funding of child care services continues to be increased and, following a review of the current funding models including economic modelling of alternative mechanisms, increases to funding be implemented in accordance with those funding mechanisms that are identified as most effective.
Recommendation Seven
That the Government waits for the report of the Australia's Future Tax System Review Panel and its recommendations regarding the funding of the child care sector. If no specific recommendations are made, the Government should consider changing the current funding system based on the economic modelling to be carried out.
Recommendation Eight
That the Government establishes a new statutory body, widely representative of the sector, for the purposes of advising the minister on child care policy and its implementation, with powers to oversee a uniform regulatory regime operating across states and territories.
Recommendation Nine
In the interests of greater transparency and accountability the committee recommends that the new statutory child care body be responsible for:
- working with stakeholders to create a policy agenda which outlines priority areas, benchmarks and targets to be achieved in the area of early childhood education and care;
- publishing an annual report which:
- outlines the progress being made in these priority areas;
- details how Federal Government funding is being spent, especially by state and territory governments;
- details the state of the early childhood education and care sector including vacancy data, numbers of children with additional needs, information on staff, costs, usage, and other information that is already collected by Commonwealth Government agencies.
That the Government takes this recommendation to COAG for its consideration, particularly in view of the need to establish clear lines of responsibility between national, state and local obligations in regard to regulation and compliance.
What do you think about the Senate’s recommendations? Will the Government listen and do you believe the recommendations will prevent another ABC Learning debacle? Go to www.CareforKids.com.au/Social to have your say.
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