Child Care News
Free child care during coronavirus pandemic leaves family day care providers concerned
ABC News - Stephanie Zillman - April 7, 2020Family day care (FDC) operators say they are concerned the Federal Government's plan to offer free child care during the COVID-19 crisis will see them lose 50% of their income. FDC represents about 16% of the childcare sector and typically involves accredited operators providing child care...
Focusing on telling parents childcare will be free has ‘led to distortions’
News.com.au - April 6, 2020Labor frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon says Prime Minister Scott Morrison modelled the government’s free childcare package in an attempt “to allow him to claim parents will pay nothing”. There are questions surrounding the government’s childcare package and whether family day care will be...
Georges River Council closes two childcare centres and future of others in doubt
St George and Sutherland Shire Leader - Murray Trembath - April 6, 2020Georges River Council has closed two of its childcare centres and the future of others is in doubt.Mayor Kevin Greene said the decision had been made in response to two federal government decisions during the coronavirus pandemic. Cr Greene said, firstly, access to the government's $1500...
Childcares struggle to make ends meet with new free care scheme
The Courier Mail - Kara Sonter, Redlands Community News - April 6, 2020Daycare centres have been left struggling to pay their staff as they prepare to slash their revenue by half as the government imposes free day care measures in the face of COVID-19. The Australian Government announced the Early Childhood Education and Care Relief Package...
Victoria expands coronavirus testing criteria to include over 65s, teachers and childcare workers
3AW News - April 6, 2020Victorian health authorities are expanding the criteria for coronavirus testing to try and stop COVID-19 in its tracks. Health workers, aged care workers and police are already being tested. Now, people aged over 65, school teachers, childcare workers and firefighters who attend ...
Coronavirus: Woodport Early Learning Centre, Erina records case
The Daily Telegraph - Fiona Killman, Central Coast Express Advocate - April 6, 2020The Central Coast has 119 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The rise in numbers comes as a confirmed case was reported at Woodport Early Learning Centre in Erina over the weekend. NSW Health reported the diagnosis at the Woodport Cl centre, stating that investigations are ongoing...
'Catch-22': Family caught between coronavirus risk and education for the kids
The Age - Ashleigh McMillan - April 6, 2020If Victorian schools reopen next week, Michelle Collett faces an impossible choice. As the sole breadwinner for her family, which lives in Newport, she needs to send her two children to school. But the decision risks the health of her husband, who has multiple sclerosis and takes medication...
G8 Education (ASX:GEM) extends trading halt: Aus shares 2.8% higher at noon
Finance News Network - April 6, 2020G8 Education (ASX:GEM) has extended its trading halt. The childcare operator requested its shares be suspend as it continues to finalise its update to the market regarding the impact of COVID-19 on current trading performance and the forecast impact of the Government Support Package ...
Is MindChamps PreSchool (SGX:CNE) A Risky Investment?
Simply Wall St - April 6, 2020Warren Buffett famously said, ‘Volatility is far from synonymous with risk.’ It’s only natural to consider a company’s balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that MindChamps PreSchool Limited (SGX:CNE) does have debt...
COVID-19 Gunnedah: free childcare initiative, Jobkeeper scheme 'great news' for families, staff
Namoi Valley Independent - Vanessa Hohnke - April 6, 2020Two of Gunnedah's child care service operators say free care from today is good news for families. From April 6, services can no longer charge fees and the federal government says it will make up the loss by paying operators 50% of the government subsidy they previously received...
'Street library' in Wagga helps keep kids entertained during isolation
The Canberra Times - Jessica McLaughlin - April 6, 2020One NSW childcare centre has gone the extra mile to bring a piece of normality back into the lives of children as coronavirus restrictions continue to get tighter. Diana Lajdes only opened her new business, Riverina Early Learning Centre in Wagga, nine weeks ago and said the current crisis...
Wage subsidy program extended to Goodstart
9 News - AAP - April 6, 2020Australia's largest child care provider has finally been thrown a lifeline during the coronavirus pandemic after the Morrison government eased the rules around its wage subsidy scheme. Goodstart and other charities will now be eligible for the $130 billion program if they have suffered a 15% decline...
Coronavirus: childcare centres split on package
The Australian - Tessa Akerman - April 5, 2020Childcare providers say some centres will become financially unsustainable and may be forced to dramatically scale back services to children with special needs as the government’s $1.6bn relief package takes effect from Monday. Queensland childcare centre owner Rebecca Grugan said ...
25 COVID-19 cases linked to Rose of Sharon childcare centre, Blacktown
The Daily Telegraph - David Meddows - April 5, 2020The distressed owner of the Rose of Sharon daycare centre - which has become a coronavirus hotspot in Sydney - had no idea that so many of her young charges and their families had tested positive to the deadly virus. Alice, who owns the Blacktown centre, was shocked when contacted...
$45m to support sessional kindergarten providers
Bendigo Advertiser - Nicholas Nakos - April 5, 2020Victoria's Minister for Education James Merlino yesterday announced a $45 million funding package to support sessional kindergarten providers. Parents will be able to send their children to sessional kindergarten for free during term two. Mr Merlino said the funding will provide ...
