Child Care News

Victorian early childhood teacher sold cannabis to secondary students “on demand”
Herald Sun - Monique Hore - February 10, 2020

An early childhood teacher has been nabbed selling pot to secondary students, even delivering the drug “on demand” during school hours. Ai Khanh-Linh Le was convicted of trafficking cannabis, and now faces the prospect of losing her teaching registration. A hearing was told...

Bush kinder wants to teach kids the endangered art of climbing a tree
ABC News - Lisa Clausen - February 9, 2020

In a patch of bush beside Melbourne's Merri Creek, five-year-old Rachael is perched in a tree. She's inched up and down several times, getting higher and prouder each time. "I like climbing the trees," she grins, her sun hat lopsided. "I'm still learning." Step into this clearing in the inner-north...

'I'm doing it for them': Bandt says family inspired him to seek Greens leadership
The Sydney Morning Herald - Judith Ireland - February 9, 2020

Ahead of the next federal election, Mr Bandt wants to develop a sweeping economy-wide plan to address climate change, social inequality and jobs (a "Green New Deal"). A significant component of this will be a childcare policy. Mr Bandt said he wants to see 80% of Australian families...

Parents horrified after mum reveals her daughter’s strict daily routine
The Advertiser - Emilia Mazza, news.com.au - February 8, 2020

A four-year-old’s daily preschool routine, which includes lessons in maths and engineering, has been savaged online, with parents saying it is “too harsh”. Details of the gruelling timetable recently came to light following a conversation with mother and her daughter’s teacher ...

School pick-up the most dangerous time of day
The West Australian - Olga de Moeller - February 7, 2020

Motorists are being reminded about road safety risks as children across WA go back to school this week and new research shows pick-up time is the most dangerous on Australian roads. Constable Care Child Safety Foundation chief executive David Gribble has appealed for parents...

Bass Hill: Childcare educator found guilty after boy escaped
The Daily Telegraph - Lawrence Machado, Canterbury-Bankstown Express - February 7, 2020

A childcare educator has been fined after a 22-month-old boy who escaped from his family day care centre in Bass Hill and was found wandering on the busy Hume Highway. On Friday, the educator was convicted of three offences and fined $250 for each of them by Bankstown...

Brisbane childcare costs: Southside suburbs most expensive in state
The Courier Mail - Kristy Muir, Southern Star - February 7, 2020

Five suburbs on Brisbane’s southside have been named among the most expensive in Queensland to put children in daycare. The childcare costs at Nathan, Rocklea and Acacia Ridge have been labelled “out of control” with pre-subsidy annual prices ranging from $14,728 to $17,352...

Building begins at Maiden Gully Early Years Hub
Bendigo Advertiser - Natalie Croxon - February 7, 2020

Construction is beginning on a new childcare and education facility aiming to provide a wraparound service for young children. The Maiden Gully Early Years Hub will include a kindergarten, childcare for children aged 0 to five years old, allied health services and medical practitioners...

Council's early childhood education receives 'top rating'
Liverpool City Champion - February 7, 2020

Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said council is committed to ensuring Liverpool is a "one-stop shop for outstanding education" after all seven of council's early childhood education centres earned the top rating of 'Exceeding National Quality Standards' from the NSW Department ...

ATO seeks input from the ECEC sector about the effective life of early childhood assets
The Sector - Freya Lucas - February 7, 2020

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is currently seeking input from those working in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in relation to capital allowances and the effective life of assets in early childhood services. Every asset which is purchased for use in an ECEC setting...

How well did the ACT do in the latest national education report?
Riot ACT - Dominic Giannini - February 7, 2020

The ACT Chief Minister has reinforced the government’s commitment to education services as a new report has revealed the Territory has the highest participation in education across early childhood, tertiary, vocational and graduate training. The Report on Government Services...

Four preschools given funding to boost Aboriginal attendance
Central Western Daily - Danielle Cetinski - February 6, 2020

Childcare centres across Orange will be able to help Aboriginal children feel more included thanks to grants from the state government. Goodstart Early Learning Centre received $9947 to buy cultural resources and invest further in its native sustainability garden. Early childhood teacher...

Intergenerational care practice may offer future career pathways
Giffith University - Deborah Marshall - February 6, 2020

New career pathways in intergenerational care practice may be the way of the future according to Griffith University researchers. Following on from their ground-breaking intergenerational care research, which analysed programs combining aged care and child-care, Professor...

Bosses may force workers to take unpaid leave over coronavirus
The Australian Business Review - Adeshola Ore - February 6, 2020

Employees who test positive to carrying the potentially fatal Wuhan coronavirus could be placed on unpaid leave until they are no longer infectious. Workplace lawyers say they had been inundated with employ­er inquiries on how to manage sick-leave entitlements as the disease spreads...

AllPlay Learn program helps children transition well to school
The Sector - Freya Lucas - February 6, 2020

An innovative program from Deakin University is supporting children with additional needs or developmental challenges to manage transition points in their educational journey, from early learning through to higher education. AllPlay Learn is a freely available evidenced-based resource...