Child Care News
Sutherland Shire Council-run Hazelhurst Arts Centre and Franklin Road Early Education Centre under investigation following COVID cases
St George & Sutherland Shire Leader - Merryn Porter - July 20, 2020A worker at a Sutherland Shire Council-run childcare centre has tested positive for coronavirus and Hazelhurst Arts Centre at Gymea is closed after a patron visited the cafe. Parents whose children attend the council-run Franklin Road Early Education Centre at Woolooware received...
OPINION We spent big to rebuild after WWII, and we must do it again
The Sydney Morning Herald - Michele O'Neil - July 20, 2020Australian unions are calling for a national economic reconstruction plan to lead the recovery of our nation. To get started, Australia's unions offer five concrete plans... a national commitment to free early child education and care, massive investment in training...
End of free child care to benefit council run centre
Wangaratta Chronicle - Nick Sinis - July 20, 2020Wangaratta's council budget could save tens of thousands of dollars as it will not have to fill the gap in funding after the Federal Government ceased the free child care package this week. The Child Care Subsidy (CCS) has resumed again while JobKeeper will also cease for employees of...
Coronavirus wage subsidy extension, free childcare, support for apprentices on union movement's wish list
ABC News - Matthew Doran - July 19, 2020The union movement is demanding the Commonwealth's coronavirus wage subsidy scheme be extended for at least six months, as the nation grapples with a surge in COVID-19 cases in Victoria and clusters in Sydney. The details of ongoing federal support for businesses and...
'Bold vision': Benefits and risks in ACTU push for free childcare
The Sydney Morning Herald - Fergus Hunter - July 19, 2020The union movement's proposal for universal free childcare would supercharge economic output and boost children's education but risks blowing out government spending and straining the capacity of services. The push for permanently free childcare is one of five big ideas in a ...
ACTU proposes $7 billion plan for free universal childcare
news.com.au - Lane Sainty - July 19, 2020The Australian Council of Trade Unions is calling for free, universal childcare to be introduced in Australia as part of a national jobs plan to reconstruct the economy after the coronavirus pandemic. The call for change comes a week after the government ended the free childcare...
Free childcare would return $60B to Australian economy: Sarah Hanson-Young
Sky News - July 19, 2020Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young has told Sky News the Australian economy is missing out on $60 billion by not providing free child care access which would lift female workforce participation. It comes as the Australian Council of Trade Unions plans to unveil five major...
'Disastrous': new lockdown means some Melbourne childcare centres could shut in weeks
The Guardian - Matilda Boseley - July 19, 2020Some Melbourne childcare centres say they may have to close within weeks without more government support, thanks to a combination of the Covid-19 lockdown and changes to federal subsidies. Mandy Kelly, who runs the Melbourne University Family Club Co-operative, says...
Melbourne early learning centre Wallaby Childcare Harpley closes after child contracts COVID-19
7news.com.au - Summer Woolley - July 18, 2020An early learning centre in Melbourne’s southwest has been forced to close its doors after a child tested positive for COVID-19. In a note to parents obtained, the centre manager at Wallaby Childcare Harpley - situated in a LendLease community - confirmed the news...
Victoria coronavirus cluster at Clever Kids Childcare in Ashburton grows to five
7news.com.au - Lucy Mae Beers - July 18, 2020A COVID-19 cluster at a childcare centre in Melbourne’s southeast has grown. On Saturday, Premier Daniel Andrews held a press conference and confirmed a total of 5353 cases in the state, which is an increase of 217. Of those, five of the cases have been linked to Clever Kids Childcare...
Coronavirus Victoria: Early Hope Learning centre shuts after worker tests positive
Coronavirus Victoria: Early Hope Learning centre shuts after worker tests positiveThe Australian - Anthony Piovesan - July 17, 2020 A staff member at a popular childcare centre in Melbourne’s southeast has tested positive for the coronavirus. The Hope Early Learning Centre in Frankston Heights confirmed to NCA NewsWire the site closed on Thursday...
Increasing the childcare subsidy will help struggling families — and the economy
The Conversation - Sarah Pilcher and Kate Noble, Victoria University - July 17, 2020In April, the federal government put in place an emergency relief package to support families and operators in the early childhood education and care sector, as many people pulled their children out of childcare. The government provided centres with around 50% of their revenue...
Opinion: City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder deserves praise for addressing childcare crisis with new facility
The West Australian - Jason Mennell, Kalgoorlie Miner - July 17, 2020News the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is spearheading a charge to build a 129-place childcare centre is the most significant council-led development since my move to the city in late 2017. Our “young” family were immediately confronted by the acute shortage of childcare places...
Vaucluse Early Learning plans for Village High Road centre revealed
The Daily Telegraph - Emily Macdonald, Wentworth Courier - July 17, 2020Vaucluse could be set for a new childcare centre with a report commissioned by the aspiring developer stating there is an undersupply and many of the existing centres are “below average”. Childcare waiting lists in the eastern suburbs are many years long at sought after centres...
ACCC to investigate Woolworths' $1b B2B push
Financial Review - Sue Mitchell - July 17, 2020The competition regulator is looking into Woolworths' plans to build a $1 billion wholesale business supplying the education, childcare, healthcare, disability and government sectors. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Rod Sims confirmed the regulator...
