The second part of our survey results is all about quality of care across the country and support for working parents.

Most figures show little change for the better than last year. Parents are still fearful of what the National Quality Framework guidelines will mean in terms of child care affordability and employers still needing to put their money where their mouth is in terms of real support for working parents. But it does seem that South Australia is where parents are happiest with child care although it's where employers are least flexible.

Parents still unsure of the consequences of the NQF
With the National Quality Framework (NQF) now in full swing and staff to children ratios being implemented across the country, it may come as some surprise that half of the parents surveyed said they didn't really understand much of what the new NQF was about. Least in the know are parents in NT (42%) followed by QLD (38%) and ACT (36%).

However on what they do know, 23% of parents think that the NQF will lead to better quality care and agree with the new ratios and better qualified staff, but over a quarter (28%) are sure that the new guidelines will lead to a further increase in child care fees, when over half (52%) said they would like to reduce the fees they currently pay, followed by changes in the hours of operation.

SA & TAS parents are happiest with child care
South Australia and Tasmania are where parents are likely to be most happy with their child care – 78% of Tasmanians and 71% of South Australians think they receive excellent quality of care in terms of carers and facilities (64% national average, down by 4% on last year). 27% of SA parents also said they wouldn't change a thing about their child care facilities, compared to the national average of 18% and just 12% in VIC, NSW and the ACT.

ACT, NT and VIC seem to be where standards are slipping with 41% of ACT. 38% of NT and 37% of VIC parents believing their child care to be "average", compared to 34% national average. However it seems that parents need to pay a bit more attention to the actual care their kids are getting as almost a quarter (23%) have no idea if their child care provides a structured numeracy and literacy program. This lack of knowledge is highest in NT (38%), followed by ACT (30%) and WA (29%). NSW child care is most likely to provide a structured program (65%) compared to just 38% in NT.

Employers still need to get behind working parents, including dads
Almost a half of parents (43%) believe their employers are fully supportive of working parents. However, almost half still have a lot to do to convince parents of their sincerity, with 44% of parents believing their employers are flexible to a point, but not really fully supportive.

And 8% believe their employers are still living in the dark ages. One fifth of the parents surveyed said that their employers have helped or are helping to support them with child care search, flexibility or other practical assistance. SA and QLD employers being amongst the worst with 10% of employers regarded as being completely inflexible.

Of those employers who are providing support, 34% are providing flexible working hours and 22% allowing occasional or regular working from home. 10% are helping with child care search and the same number providing information and advice.

Of those working mums questioned, 71% had asked their employer for flexible work options, of which 63% had been agreed to. It seems though that employers are still not getting the need for equality across working mums and dads when it comes to parenting duties, with 39% of respondents saying their employers were less flexible with dads.

We'll be looking at the motivations and difficulties (both emotional and practical) of returning to work and how working mums feel about their careers.

View Part 1 – How long, how much and is it worth it?

View Part 2 – Quality & employer support for working parents

View Part 3 – Returning to work

View Part 4 – National Quality Framework