Child Care News
Talking Point: How will childcare centres survive?
Mercury - Ros Cornish - May 22, 2020If the Tasmanian economy is to rebuild, we need as many people back at work as possible — and they need affordable childcare options. But what if families don’t return and centres fold? While not perfect, the Federal Government’s assistance package has been a saviour for many ...
Researching Education: Five further readings on early childhood education
Teacher Magazine - Dominique Russell; Jenny Trevitt - May 22, 2020As an early years educator, how do you ensure students are mastering key core skills needed for further learning? In these five readings, you’ll find a paper on how policies for early years learning are shaping the quality and equity of early childhood education and care, and an article...
Response to Relief Package review needs to address ‘the big question’ ELAA says
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 22, 2020With much of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector divided about the best next steps for the Federal Government to take post 28 June, in relation to the retention, or otherwise, of the Relief Package, the Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) has voiced...
Childcare is critical for COVID-19 recovery. We can’t just snap back to 'normal' funding arrangements
The Conversation - Kate Noble, Jen Jackson, Sarah Pilcher - May 21, 2020This week, the federal government released a review of a relief package it put in place in April to ensure the early childhood education and care sector remained financially viable and children of essential workers, as well as vulnerable children, could continue to attend...
Childcare facing ‘imminent collapse’ if govt abandons relief package
Townsville Bulletin - Kate Banville - May 22, 2020Prominent industry voices are calling for a complete overhaul of the “broken” early childhood system, warning it’s on the brink of collapsing. The Federal Government’s childcare relief funding has cost about $131 million a week and $917 million to date, according to figures heard...
Childcare centre takes on Geocon over Gungahlin tower
The Riot Act - Ian Bushnell - May 21, 2020A David and Goliath struggle between a YMCA childcare centre and developers has been resurrected by a new development application to amend the previously approved application for a 15-storey residential tower in Gungahlin. The new DA from Geocon and Empire Global...
Labor and Greens back community call to retain free childcare in wake of CCS return
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 21, 2020Representatives from both The Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party (ALP) have backed a community call to retain free childcare in light of Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan’s indication that the Government will revert to a fee-paying model, potentially as early...
'I can't wait to pay my daycare fees again'
Kispot - Emily Blatchford - May 21, 2020This is an extract from the email I received in return: “At this stage, I cannot confirm a start date, unfortunately. We are still working in the background with some transitions to create spots in our nursery rooms however we are also waiting on some other factors which must be considered...
Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) confirms departure of CEO
The Sector - Jason Roberts - May 21, 2020Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS), the Melbourne based not for profit early childhood education and care provider, has confirmed that CEO Kim Bertino has tendered her resignation with the mutual agreement of the Board of Directors, effective 18 May 2020...
Childcare disaster Australia can’t afford
Warwick Daily News - Georgie Dent - May 21, 2020In recent days both the Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Education Minister Dan Tehan have indicated that the "free" childcare arrangement they initially promised for six months may be shelved as early as June 28. To understand why this will be catastrophic for parents and centres...
Albanese coy on Labor's childcare policy
News.com.au - May 21, 2020Opposition leader Anthony Albanese has remained tight-lipped on whether Labor will push for the continuation of free childcare beyond June 28. Under the scheme - which was put in place to assist childcare centres through the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic...
Snapping back to the childcare subsidy method is nuts. It should not be a system that profits
The Guardian - Lisa Bryant - May 20, 2020Despite the fact it costs Australia over $8bn a year in subsidies, Australia’s childcare system is so broken that when Covid-19 hit us, it was one of the first sectors the government needed to bail out. Mass closures of centres were on the cards. A rescue package that gave childcare operators...
Childcare services where many staff can't get government wage subsidies have been thrown an extra lifeline
The Canberra Times - Katina Curtis - May 20, 2020A review of the emergency overhaul to childcare funding, a month into its operation, found three-quarters said the new arrangements were keeping them financially viable during the coronavirus crisis. A review of the emergency overhaul to childcare funding, a month into its operation...
The coronavirus pandemic will change the way we work, with both men and women to reap the benefits
ABC News - Rhiannon Shine - May 20, 2020She said childcare should stay free, wages should be increased in female-dominated industries such as healthcare, childcare and education that had proven vital, and economic stimulus should be spent in those sectors."We often think of stimulus as infrastructure - roads and bridges...
‘It’s done its job’: Dan Tehan flags end of free childcare under weight of increasing demand
The Guardian - Paul Karp - May 19, 2020Dan Tehan has suggested the days of free childcare are numbered, as a return to the old subsidy model will be needed to keep centres viable as Australians return to work. The education minister told Radio National on Tuesday a new report on the free model showed it had “done its job”...