Child Care News
John Paul College slashes fees for Term 2 online classes
The Courier Mail - Judith Kerr, Antonia O’Flaherty, Quest Newspapers - April 17, 2020One of Logan’s most prestigious private schools is slashing school fees during Term 2 because of the coronavirus. The temporary reduction at John Paul College will be 25 per cent for Prep to Year 3 students and 15 per cent for students in Years 4 to 12. Kindy and childcare will be free...
Supporting children's wellbeing during COVID-19
Mirage News - April 17, 2020Professor Elizabeth Fernandez on helping children cope with uncertain times. With the outbreak of COVID-19 everyday life has changed suddenly and dramatically for children and their caregivers. They are confronted with major adjustments to their children''s school and home...
Why are some childcare services asking for money from parents?
Women's Agenda - Lisa Bryant - April 16, 2020"Free Childcare", screamed the headlines. "Child Care Rescue Package", read others. Why then, are some parents being approached for donations from their childcare centres who are saying they are worse off than were before? Before the 6th of April, it looked like Australia's education...
Emerging diseases expert: We are destroying social distancing gains by going to school
The Daily Telegraph - Raina MacIntyre - April 16, 2020Allowing schools to reopen and letting thousands of kids to congregate together is negating the sacrifices people are making around social distancing. Whilst kids are less likely to die from COVID-19, child deaths have been reported, including in China, the US and UK...
More government aid needed to shore up Munster child care centre's survival
Perth Now - Ben Smith, Cockburn Gazette - April 16, 2020A Munster childcare centre owner says the federal government's stimulus package for the industry is not enough on its own for her centre to survive. The Kids Corner Child Care Centre has been forced to turn families away to keep operating costs to a minimum as they aim to...
Virus fears at day care
The West Australian - Jackson Lavell-Lee, Busselton Dunsborough Times - April 16, 2020Childcare workers and parents in the Capes are concerned children were potentially exposed to COVID-19 because of the high risk of the spread of the virus from the children of healthcare workers. Bluebird Childcare Centres founder and owner Jane Chambers said many...
"I often cry on my way to work." Three early childhood educators on the free child care scheme
MamaMia - Billi Fitzsimons - April 16, 2020Early Childhood Australia supported the scheme, with CEO Samantha Page saying the announcement “tackles most of the big issues that services and families have been grappling with over the past month”. However, it seems early childhood educators aren’t actually that pleased...
Families face new hurdle as battling childcare centres prioritise essential workers
The Courier Mail - Kara Sonter - April 15, 2020CHILDCARE centres are cutting back on nappies, meals and introducing priority care systems as they fight to provide consistent care for children on limited funding. The Federal Government’s ‘free daycare’ scheme, which has seen centres absorb the fees usually paid by parents...
Coronavirus is changing how schools run in Australia. Here's what happens for term two
ABC News - Peta Fuller - April 16, 2020So where do the states stand on returning to school? Can you send your child on a random day? And what about out-of-school care? Here's what parents need to know going into term two. Who is an 'essential' worker? First up, this is a phrase that's come up a lot, particularly from the Prime Minister...
Union seeks clarification about NSW Government commitment to 6 months of funding
The Sector - Freya Lucas - April 15, 2020The Independent Education Union NSW/ACT Branch (IEU NSW/ACT), representing early childhood teachers in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory has sought further clarity around a recent $51 million funding package announcement by the NSW Government...
Life’s a juggle when you’re all at home
Sydney Morning Herald - Monique Butterworth - April 15, 2020Families can access free childcare for the next few months under government moves to keep early education centres open and staff employed. Free childcare is a lifeline for parents working from home , looking for work or who seek to study online, be it a single unit of study that helps...
Coronavirus school closures: Scott Morrison issues direct plea to teachers to return to classroom
News.com.au - Samantha Maiden - April 15, 2020Prime Minister Scott Morrison has issued a direct plea to teachers to return to the classroom and join the “great heroes” of Australia including cleaners, supermarket workers, nurses and paramedics who are fighting COVID-19 simply by doing their jobs. Warning parents the education...
Shine Bright, Jenny's Early Learning Centre adapt to the COVID-19 restrictions for kindergartens and childcare centres
Bendigo Advertiser - Tara Cosoleto - April 15, 2020Some central Victorian kindergarten staff have expressed concerns about returning to classes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Shine Bright chief executive Suzi Sordan said students would return to centres from Wednesday after federal and state governments deemed ...
Why the G8 Education share price is sinking lower on the ASX 200 today
The Motley Fool - James Mickleboro - April 14, 2020The G8 Education Ltd (ASX: GEM) share price has returned from its trading halt this morning. After initially surging as much as 11% higher, the childcare centre operator’s shares are now down 4% to $1.03. Why was G8 Education in a trading halt? G8 Education requested a trading halt...
Childcare managers say fee relief package will force centres to close
The Courier Mail - Brian Bennion, South-East Advertiser - April 14, 2020Camp Hill Childcare Centre Timber Tots has warned the Federal Government’s new fee relief package will put the industry on the verge of collapse. Timber Tots Owner and Director Jana Walker took to Facebook to say the new package immediately resulted in the centre losing...
