Child Care News
Bain talks debt terms with Only About Children lenders
Australian Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - July 21, 2020Bain Capital has kicked off the first of many awkward discussions between private equity sponsors invested in childcare companies struggling through the pandemic and their lenders. As first reported by Street Talk, the Boston-headquartered buyout giant held a call on Friday night with ...
Childcare centre flags contact tracing delays amid 'inundation'
The Age - Rachael Dexter and Paul Sakkal - July 21, 2020A childcare centre in Melbourne's north with seven confirmed COVID-19 cases will require all children and staff to be tested for COVID-19 and return a negative result before being allowed back into the centre. In a letter sent to parents on Tuesday night, Only About Children in Coonan's Hill...
Jacaranda Cottage childcare centre faces eviction under Marist’s $141m development plan
The Daily Telegraph - David Barwell, Mosman Daily - July 21, 2020A popular childcare centre is facing eviction from its long-running home on Sydney’s north shore, prompting concerns over job losses and an appeal by families for council support. Jacaranda Cottage in North Sydney is set to be demolished as part of Marist College’s $141 million plan...
Heritage water reservoir to become childcare centre
ArchitectureAU - Editorial Desk - July 21, 2020A historic reservoir in Sydney’s inner-west will be transformed into a childcare centre for 159 children, according to plans submitted to council by Little Lane Early Learning and Milton Architects. The Drummoyne Reservoir has been a distinctive feature on the suburb’s skyline since 1913 ...
Some parents may struggle to afford preschool if fee-free initiative is not extended
Bega District News - Albert McNight - July 21, 2020If the NSW government's free preschool initiative is not continued some parents in the Bega Valley may not be able to afford to send their children to preschool, a director has warned. Labor's Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Learning Jodie Harrison visited Bega on Tuesday...
Tradie to blame for tot's escape from Figtree childcare centre: department
Illawarra Mercury - Angela Thompson - July 21, 2020A Figtree childcare centre that came under investigation when a toddler escaped its grounds will not be prosecuted, after authorities found a visiting tradesman largely responsible for the breach...
NSW opens applications for learning environments and Start Strong grants
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 21, 2020Applications are now open for the 2020 Quality Learning Environments (QLE) Program and the 2020 Start Strong Capital Works Grants Program, for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services located in New South Wales. The 2020 QLE program supports eligible early childhood ...
Victorian COVID cases identified at Ada Mary A’Beckett child care centre in Port Melbourne
7news.com.au - Emily Olle - July 21, 2020A baby and two staff members have tested positive for coronavirus at a Melbourne child care centre. The Ada Mary A’Beckett Children’s Centre, in Port Melbourne, has been shut down after confirming the three cases on Tuesday. “Management is taking direction from the ...
Nino Early Learning Adventures childcare provider shuts Bundoora site
news.com.au - Anthony Piovesan - July 21, 2020A popular Melbourne childcare provider will shut its Bundoora site on Tuesday as the centre scrambles to deal with a coronavirus outbreak. In an “urgent notification” issued to families on Monday night Nino Early Learning Adventures advised the service would close after...
Labor urges govt to keep childcare workers on JobKeeper
Sky News - July 20, 2020Childcare workers could face losing their jobs now they are ineligible to access JobKeeper payments, according to Shadow Early Childhood Education Minister Amanda Rishworth. From Monday July 20 the government’s JobKeeper scheme ends for the childcare workers, making it ...
Sutherland Shire Council says no risk to children at Franklin Road Early Education Centre after staffer tests positive to COVID-19
St George & Sutherland Shire Leader - Merryn Porter - July 20, 2020Sutherland Shire Council says a childcare worker at one of its centres who tested positive to COVID-19 "was not present at the centre during the period they were contagious". The council was responding to reports today that a staff member at Franklin Road Early Education Centre...
Kids radio that's grown-up friendly too
The Age - Peter Wells - July 20, 2020As Melbourne enters another six weeks in isolation, one lifeline for parents is the wonderful service Kinderling, a kids radio station and podcast platform. Kinderling, like ABC Kids Listen, provides much needed entertainment for children that is not screen based. As we settle back...
Affinity to roll out social learning platform Flipgrid to all kinder and preschool rooms
The Sector - Jason Roberts - July 20, 2020Affinity Education has confirmed that it will be rolling out Flipgrid, a video based social learning platform that is facilitated by educators but populated by children, to all of its centres by the end of 2020. The Flipgrid initiative came together following tougher social distancing measures...
ECA calls for ongoing support for ECEC sector in wake of funding withdrawal
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 20, 2020Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has called for ongoing Government support for young children, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the sector begins to navigate without the support of JobKeeper payments...
Flexible work, parental support and childcare options: Nine ways to be a family-friendly employer
Smart Company - Women's Agenda - July 20, 2020Employers must normalise flexible work, address domestic violence and review their paid parental leave policies in order to be family friendly during COVID-19 and beyond, according to a number of key agencies that have come together to issue nine recommendations...
