Child Care News

Angle Vale and Aldinga school plans revealed, with work to begin within months
7news.com.au - Tim Hatfield - January 8, 2020

The designs for Adelaide's newest schools have been revealed, with the projects being touted as revolutionary learning centres. Both sites will cater to babies through to year 12. They will also include 100 spaces for students with disabilities and 75 child care places...

Children at TG's Child Care, Riverbreeze, Wauchope recycle water
Wauchope Gazette - Letitia Fitzpatrick - January 8, 2020

Tiny tots at TG's Childcare in Wauchope are learning about recycling water. The children at the Riverbreeze centre have started using buckets to collect the water from their new hand-washing troughs. "They then use it to water our very thirsty gardens. Every drop counts," ...

Investigation in to Marsden kindy after boy left in locked minibus
The Courier Mail - Judith Kerr, Quest Newspapers - January 8, 2020

An investigation is under way after a five-year-old boy was left unattended in a locked kindy bus for more than 40 minutes on a day when temperatures hit more than 28C. Tyler Walton fell asleep in the Marsden Kindergarten and Child Care Centre bus after a kindy outing ...

Lucky escape as scaffolding crashes into Croydon childcare centre
Herald Sun - Kiel Egging, Maroondah Leader - January 8, 2020

Children were napping and had a lucky escape when scaffolding crashed into the play area of a Croydon childcare centre. Worksafe is investigating the December 30 early afternoon incident at Platypus Junction Childcare Centre. About 45 children and staff were inside the centre...

Southeast childcare centre delivers truckloads of much-needed support after post goes viral
Herald Sun - Brittany Goldsmith, Chelsea Leader - January 7, 2020

Aspendale Gardens resident Shannon Hardy said she was “amazed” by the power of social media after a call-out for help on her daughter’s childcare Facebook page exploded online. And in a classic display of community spirit, the Goodstart Early Learning Aspendale Gardens group...

ACECQA 2019 Parent Survey gives insights into ECEC selection approach and more
The Sector - Jason Roberts - January 7, 2020

In the recently released 2019 National Quality Framework (NQF) Annual Performance Report, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Authority (ACECQA) shared the results of their 2019 family survey in which parents were asked a range of questions including but not limited to...

Leading ECEC voices share their hopes for the sector in 2020 – and beyond
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 7, 2020

As we move into a new year The Sector has again put out a call to prominent voices from across Australia’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) community, as we did in 2019, to ask what they were hoping the coming year would bring to our sector. We hope you enjoy reading...

St Ives: Arcare aged care home approved at Killeaton St, Mona Vale Rd
The Daily Telegraph - David Barwell, North Shore Times - January 6, 2020

Homes and a childcare centre will be demolished to make way for a controversial aged care facility. The decision comes following a battle in the Land and Environment Court. Plans show the development will involve bulldozing existing buildings including the Ganeinu Childcare Centre...

The danger of making playgrounds too safe
ABC Life - Nick Selenitsch - January 6, 2020

"It's to do with litigation, isn't it?" said a colleague when I mentioned I was writing about playground design and risk. If asked, I'm sure many of us would assume the same thing. But it turns out minimising exposure to legal action isn't a primary driver behind playground creation...

G8 completes sale of 25 WA centres to Sparrow Early Learning
The Sector - Jason Roberts - January 6, 2020

In an announcement released on 20 December 2019, G8 Education have confirmed that the sale of the 25 centres in Western Australia (WA) to Sparrow Early Learning announced in November 2019 has been completed. The divestment will see G8’s network in WA fall to 42 centres...

Smoke shuts Canberra child care centres
The Canberra Times - Finbar O'Mallon - January 6, 2020

Canberra child care centres have closed due to the poor air quality in the capital from bushfire smoke. The capital's air quality is the worst of any major city in the world on Monday morning, as winds carry in smoke from bushfires in NSW. The Department of Health is relocating staff...

Moonee Valley Racing Club sells childcare centre on 4.9pc yield
Australian Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - January 5, 2020

The Moonee Valley Racing Club in Melbourne has tapped into strong demand for metropolitan childcare centres after selling an early learning centre it developed at the racetrack for $6.6 million. The deal for the NIDO Early School in Moonee Ponds was struck on a yield of 4.9%...

Childcare centres raising revenue with 'extreme' withdrawal policies
The Sydney Morning Herald - Caitlin Fitzsimmons - January 5, 2020

Sydney childcare centres are clawing extra revenue from families by imposing "extreme" terms and conditions around withdrawal notice periods and bonds. The Sun-Herald has found some centres refuse to return the bond unless the child is moving to school, while others require...

Shops to close for planned $9.2m pool, childcare centre in Northbridge
The Daily Telegraph - David Barwell, North Shore Times - January 3, 2020

A Sydney childcare operator is planning a major expansion on the north shore with plans for a three storey early education centre and swimming pool in the Northbridge town centre. Senses ELC has released a $9.1 million proposal to build a 124-place childcare centre...

New childcare centre set to include full-time general practitioners, nurses onsite
The Courier Mail - Antonia O'Flaherty - January 2, 2020

Parents are expecting more bang for their buck when it comes to childcare centres as educators move to provide a full service beyond just childminding. Nundah-based Habitat Early Learning, opening on Monday will be the first to have a full-time general practitioner on-site...