Child Care News
Families on tight budgets anxious about end of free childcare
ABC News - David Taylor on PM - July 13, 2020The first day of full-fee childcare has just wrapped up, which could be seen as a sign that life, for some, is slowly returning to normal. However for some it's creating enormous anxiety. PM speaks with families who are now having to make tough decisions about whether...
Free childcare ends as tax refunds start rolling out to millions of Australians
The Guardian - Paul Karp - July 13, 2020Some in the not-for-profit childcare sector say a new “sustainability payment” for childcare centres operating in areas that have returned to stage three restrictions will also be required. From Monday, childcare centres can start to charge parents fees again and the government...
Victoria confirms ECEC services will continue as schools close for Stage 3 restrictions
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 13, 2020On the advice of the Victorian Chief Health Officer, students in Prep to Year 10 at government schools in metropolitan Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire will learn from home from Monday 20 July until at least 19 August, following five pupil-free days already scheduled for the coming week...
New Australian B2B wholesale trading platform TradeSquare ready to launch
Inside Retail - July 13, 2020Australian owned and Australia focused, TradeSquare will link brands and wholesalers with small businesses, including retailers, education and child-care providers, healthcare and hospitality businesses across Australia, saving them time and money in sourcing. TradeSquare...
Education Minister urges parents to consider their options as free childcare ends today
ABC news - July 13, 2020Education minister Dan Tehan is urging parents, particularly in Victoria, to speak to their providers as the Government's free childcare program is set to end today...
Free childcare ends as tax refunds start rolling out to millions of Australians
The Guardian - Paul Karp- July 13, 2020The 1 million Australians who have already completed their tax returns will start to receive refunds this week, but for families with children in childcare, Monday also marks the return to the fee-and-subsidy model. The treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, has released tax office statistics showing...
Childcare crisis: What the end of the free scheme means for Australian parents
The Daily Telegraph - Clare Masters - July 10, 2020Childcare services could be closed off to more families and fees are likely to rise following the end of free childcare this Monday. Advocates for early childhood education say if the federal government doesn’t urgently intervene with a new funding model the sector will see widespread...
Uniting NSW.ACT confirms closure of three services after strategic review
The Sector - Jason Roberts - July 10, 2020Not-for-profit early education and care provider Uniting NSW.ACT has confirmed that after the completion of a strategic portfolio review three early learning services located in New South Wales will be closed. The services, in Caringbah, Mascot, and Hornsby (Sarah’s Place)...
The Wiggles Are Hosting a Free Virtual Camp for Preschoolers
Life Hacker - Meghan Moravcik Walbert - July 10, 2020It’s still virtual camp season, and the latest free camp to be announced is one that many little kids will be pumped to attend: The Wiggles’ Virtual Summer Camp. The “camp” will be hosted by Emma Wiggle and Captain Feathersword (in partnership with Rascal + Friends)...
Coronavirus case forces closure of Ocean Grove childcare centre
Geelong Advertiser - Olivia Shying - July 10, 2020A childcare centre in Ocean Grove has been forced to close after a child returned a positive coronavirus test. The Boorai Centre, at Shell Rd, told families late on Thursday it would be closed until further notice. “Please be advised that The City of Greater Geelong has been notified by ...
'It will be difficult': families and centres divided on the end of free childcare
Essential Baby - Ariane Beeston and Heidi Krause - July 10, 2020With the government's free childcare scheme set to end on 12 July, families around Australia are preparing to see fees taken out of already stretched budgets amid the coronavirus pandemic. On 13 July the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will return, along with a Transition Payment to replace ...
The Federal Government's free childcare program ends on Monday. Here's what that means for you
ABC News - Emily Stewart - July 10, 2020For many families, childcare fees are one of the biggest household expenses. But for the past three months, it's been free. The Federal Government introduced the free scheme in April, with the aim of keeping providers afloat during the coronavirus pandemic. But from Monday...
'Haven't heard back': Parents in dark over COVID-19 case at childcare centre
The Age - Bianca Hall - July 9, 2020Parents at a Flemington childcare co-operative have been waiting four days for official advice from health authorities after a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 just days after working at the centre. The childcare, which has 17 staff, said without official advice it had not been able ...
Free child care scheme took a chunk out of CPI, ABS says
The Market Herald - Josh Smith - July 9, 2020The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed the recent government-backed free child care scheme had a major impact on the consumer price index (CPI) over the June quarter. Simply speaking, the CPI measures the average change in the price of basket household goods ...
The case for maintaining free childcare - Australia's "Pink Collar Recession"
The Canberra Times - Professor Alison Sheridan (UNE) - July 9, 2020The financial fallout from COVID-19 is disproportionately impacting women as Australia's "Pink Collar Recession" deepens. The pandemic has exacerbated existing gender inequities in our workforce and highlighted the critical importance of childcare. With the July 13 deadline...
