Child Care News
A return to pre-COVID childcare fees will force women out of work
Women's Agenda - Madeline Hislop - June 3, 2020More than half of families using early childhood education and care who have lost income will see one parent forced to reduce paid work if childcare fees return in full in July. This will be particularly detrimental to women’s workforce participation, with 68 per cent of those families indicating...
2020 Victorian Early Years Award nominations now open
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 3, 2020Nominations for the Victorian Early Years Award, a staple of the early childhood sector in Victoria for the past 15 years, are now open, with families, early childhood professionals and early years organisations encouraged to recognise the outstanding work of early years professionals...
Goodstart director named as 2020 QLD Delegate of the Year in Labour Day Awards
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 3, 2020Goodstart Early Learning Director and Australian Labor Party candidate for the Queensland seat of Theodore, Tracey Bell, has been named as the winner of the 2020 Queensland Delegate of the Year in the annual Labour Day Awards. Ms Bell was nominated by the United Workers Union...
Victoria coronavirus school clusters: Macleod Preschool closed
7News - Lucy Mae Beers - June 2, 2020At least 20 students and staff are considered close contacts of a teacher from a Melbourne preschool who tested positive to coronavirus. On Tuesday, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed the case at Macleod Preschool in Melbourne’s northeast and the school has been closed...
Arena REIT placement upsized: book message
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - June 2, 2020Childcare centres owner Arena REIT is making the most of its trip to equity capital markets. A message sent to funds by lead manager Morgan Stanley on Tuesday afternoon said that the REIT's $50 million placement was oversubscribed and the company was increasing...
Medowie: $8m complex containing pharmacy, mecical centre and child care gets green light
The Daily Telegraph - Amy Ziniak, The Newcastle News - June 2, 2020A 126-space child care centre, pharmacy and medical centre will all be part of an $8 million development coming to Medowie, after it was approved by the JRPP. The predicted population growth of a suburb in Port Stephens will drive continued development to address ...
Toxic soil removed from childcare centre in Keilor Park
Herald Sun - Alex White - June 2, 2020Toxic soil will be stripped from a Melbourne childcare centre and a further 13 private properties are under review after testing found the cancer-causing chemical PFAS on site. The contaminated section of playground at the Milleara Integrated Learning Centre in Keilor Park has been restricted...
Union calls out COVID-19 risks with survey – two thirds of respondents feel unsafe at work
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 2, 2020The United Workers Union has conducted a national survey of over 1,000 educators, finding that a number of them feel that there are “widespread safety risks” and “dropping standards of education and care” as the number of children attending long day care rapidly goes up...
SNAICC submission says COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated ECEC weaknesses
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 2, 2020SNAICC – National Voice for our Children recently provided a submission to the Federal Government inquiry into COVID-19 responses, based on consultation with its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years network about the impacts of COVID-19 on children, families...
Free childcare set to end by July but parents promised continued relief
7 News - June 2, 2020The government is set to scrap its childcare subsidy package earlier than previously thought, with parents reportedly to start paying for childcare fees by July. But fees are likely to be cheaper than before coronavirus hit, with subsidies set to increase, The West Australian reports...
Arena REIT launches $50 million raising; Morgan Stanley, E&P on ticket
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - June 2, 2020Childcare centres owner Arena REIT was in front of fund managers on Tuesday, seeking to raise $50 million to underpin the acquisition of further social infrastructure property investments. Morgan Stanley underwrote the deal, which was structured as an institutional placement...
Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten in hands of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants
Herald Sun - Kiel Egging, Maroondah Leader - June 2, 2020More than 60 children, families and staff could be affected with a Heathmont kinder being liquidated. Administrators were appointed for the Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten on February 25 after its board raised concerns about its ongoing viability. The kindergarten...
Bethany Kindergarten Services conduct tours for parents virtually
Geelong Advertiser - Natalee Kerr - June 2, 2020Choosing the right kindergarten for a child can be challenging at the best of times, but it is a whole new story during a pandemic. Wandana Heights mother Kate Hickey said the process can involve a lot of pressure – especially when open days have been cancelled due to COVID-19...
Working mothers penalised: Childcare subsidies must be reviewed
Financial Review - Craig Emerson - June 1, 2020Australia’s virus-induced recession is like no other economic crisis our nation has faced: fast and brutal, it has caused more women than men to lose their jobs. In previous recessions, men have borne the brunt of job destruction. But women have been at the front line of the coronavirus crisis...
Government's free childcare scheme 'not sustainable' for many Aussie providers
9 News - Olivana Smith Lathouris - June 1, 2020As Australia enters its third month of the government's free childcare scheme to assist families in coping with the coronavirus pandemic, some providers are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. As part of the plan, the government agreed to pay the equivalent of 50% of a childcare centre's...
