Child Care News
Apply for the Little Scientists Early STEM Award, to recognise inquiry based ECEC STEM
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 12, 2020Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services who have interesting ideas for a STEM exploration, or who already run a STEM project with the children in their service have been invited to gain recognition for their work, via the biennial Little Scientists Early STEM Award. The award...
Welfare payments fast-tracked for casuals
Financial Review - David Marin-Guzman - March 12, 2020The government also announced it will pay half the wages of 117,000 apprentices and trainees, or up to $7000 a quarter, for a nine month period, backdated to January, to ensure they don't lose their job due to the coronavirus. The subsidy will cover electricians, plumbers, chefs, and childcare and aged care trainees...
Childcare boss warns of big knock-on if shutdowns ordered
Financial Review - Simon Evans and Liam Walsh - March 11, 2020The chief executive of ASX-listed Think Childcare says more than one million families rely on childcare services across Australia and any move to temporarily shut down centres en masse would have a ''devastating'' effect on the economy, because many parents wouldn't...
New WHO guidelines highlight the importance of early learning and responsive care
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 11, 2020Enabling young children to achieve their full potential is a human right, and an essential requisite for sustainable development. It is from this premise that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed a new guideline to provide direction for strengthening policies...
Child care fined after girl left on WA bus
Nine.com.au - March 11, 2020A child care provider in Perth has been fined $15,000 after a five-year-old girl was left alone in a locked bus for up to 15 minutes. The State Administrative Tribunal also ordered the Helping Hands Network to pay $2000 in costs over the May 2019 incident. The WA Department of Communities...
Thousands of south-west children learn the importance of healthy habits
The Standard - Kyra Gillespie - March 11, 2020LITTLE ones are heading home from kindy to tell mum and dad just which foods are healthy and which aren't. Thousands of children in the south-west, including at North Edge Child Care Centre in Warrnambool, are being taught dental and nutrition literacy as part of statewide program...
Starting early is the key to easing the trajectory of childhood obesity, new study finds
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 11, 2020A new study has shown that early education and support for pregnant women and parents could be key to combating rising rates of obesity in Australian children. The findings will be of interest to those who work supporting children and families prenatally, and to those...
Think Market update - occupancy continues upward trend
Austrailan Financial Review - March 11, 2020Think Childcare Group (ASX:TNK) (Group) is pleased to announce movement in occupancy to date, for the first 10 weeks of the year, on a like-for-like basis across 53 of our 72 Services fully owned for the 2019 year, has continued to trend upwards and there has not been any significant...
Allan Gray Australia buys up 5 per cent stake in Gold Coast childcare giant G8 Education
Gold Coast Bulletin - Alister Thomson - March 11, 2020"Contrarian" fund manager Allan Gray has swooped in and secured a five per cent stake in struggling Gold Coast childcare giant G8 Education. Documents filed with the Australian Stock Exchange show Allan Gray Australia and funds it manages bought 26.775 million shares in G8...
Coronavirus risk at Sunshine Coast childcare centre low despite patient visit, says principal
7news.com.au - Warren Barnsley - March 10, 2020The principal of a Sunshine Coast childcare centre says the risk of a coronavirus outbreak there is low, despite a woman who tested positive coming into contact with students. The woman has a child who attends River School and Childcare Centre in Maleny...
VegKit for Aussie kids
Mirage News - March 10, 2020Flinders University nutrition experts have contributed to a newly launched online registry of resources that aims to help boost vegetable consumption in Aussie kids. The searchable website features projects, programs and research that can be used by health professionals...
ACA releases updated FAQ’s to support members concerned about COVID-19
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 10, 2020The national branch of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) has issued an updated list of FAQ’s on the coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, as it applies to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, effective 6 March 2020. The update came, ACA said...
Coronavirus: Schools close in two states as total cases near 100
9 News - Olivana Smith Lathouris, AAP - March 10, 2020Schools in two Australian states are closed today after further cases of coronavirus among students and staff were confirmed. The closures come as the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 nation-wide surged to over 90. Education Minister Dan Tehan said temporary school...
Cumberland Council reinstates nappy allowance after it was cut
The Daily Telegraph - Joanne Vella, Parramatta Advertiser - March 10, 2020Cumberland Council has suffered a $6.4 million deficit over the past financial year but it was “mortified” an extra allowance that childcare workers receive for changing nappies was cut. The bonus will be reinstated after Mayor Steve Christou was alerted to the extra duty allowance...
Childcare centre development at Seaside Drive, Lake Cathie, gets the nod
Camden Haven Courier - Lisa Tisdell - March 9, 2020A childcare centre, given the planning green light at Lake Cathie, will provide quite a boost to the economy, the developer says. About 40 jobs will be created as a result of the Seaside Drive childcare centre development at Rainbow Beach Estate. The developer, John Stevens...
