Child Care News
Early childhood educators will join the Great Resignation
Women's Agenda - Dr Marg Rogers - February 1, 2022Right now early childhood educators are in massive demand, as the Omicron variant leaves thousands of families without childcare and hundreds of early childhood services have been forced to close. But we can expect more demand in the future, especially as the ‘Great...
Land near Southside Central could become childcare centre
The Courier Mail - Crystal Jones - February 1, 2022One of Bundaberg‘s most well-known empty blocks of land may have an exciting new future if a development application gets the green light. On Monday, an application was submitted to Bundaberg Regional Council for a childcare centre to be built on 60 Walker St...
Questions raised about children's development during COVID
Canberra Times - Olivia Ireland - February 1, 2022The COVID-19 pandemic is beginning its third year, which means the next generation's development will be heavily influenced by the experience of "living with COVID". Families with young children are beginning to call out for more support, as it's anticipated the pandemic...
Before and after school care savings for families
NSW Government - January 31, 2022Parents and carers of children enrolled in all primary schools in NSW will benefit from a new $155 million program for Before and After School Care (BASC) services to provide greater support and access to BASC services. The $500 voucher will assist families who...
Education RAT rollout still short as SA term starts
The Advertiser - Chris Russell - January 31, 2022Shortages of rapid antigen tests required by child care centres and schools will be fixed by Wednesday, Premier Steven Marshall has pledged. Early childhood care providers and schools were due to receive RAT kits to follow new rules on Covid-19 which began this...
Box Hill: Four-storey child care and medical centre proposal for Alan Street
The Daily Telegraph - Odessa Blain - January 31, 2022Development plans, valued at just over $5 million, have been lodged for the construction of a four-storey child care facility and medical centre at 5 Alan Street, Box Hill. The proposed location is in a semirural area that is undergoing marked redevelopment — plans...
Study shows children wearing masks associated with reduced COVID-19 related ECEC closures
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 31, 2022A new Yale University study has found that childcare programs in the United States that practiced ‘child masking’ (children wearing masks) early in the COVID-19 pandemic (May-June 2020) experienced a 13 per cent reduction in program closure within the following...
Parents to get a $500 voucher for each primary schoolchild
The Sydney Morning Herald - Jordan Baker - January 31, 2022The $155 million program will also be a much-needed stimulus for the out-of-school hours care industry, which once struggled to cope with demand but is now fighting to remain viable after two years of low enrolments due to COVID-19 uncertainty and parents working...
Aboriginal And Low-Income Families Benefit From Preschool Program Grants
News Of The Area - Paul fogarty - January 31, 2022STATE Government grants of up to $10,000 have been approved for 11 Coffs Coast services to help improve participation in preschool programs for Aboriginal and low-income families. Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said the grants “will allow preschool...
Thanks, but not enough: Thrive by Five says new Government measures are inadequate
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 31, 2022Early childhood education and care (ECEC) campaigners Thrive by Five have hit back at last week’s support measures put forward by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, saying the additional measures are not enough to prevent future centres closures...
Victoria announces additional kindergarten year for three-year-olds
The Australian - Rhiannon Tuffield - January 30, 2022In a major overhaul of Victoria’s child education program, three year-old children will be able to access an additional year of the funded program. Around 2700 services across 79 local government areas will deliver at least five hours per week of program this year...
Harristown most expensive suburb for childcare according to data from fee comparison website Care for Kids
The Chronicle - Jarrad Potter - January 29, 2022Parents in Toowoomba suburb Harristown paid the most per day for childcare – $146 – out of anywhere in Queensland, according to newly released data. Comparison website Care for Kids has revealed the most expensive suburbs for childcare last year, based on data...
New close contact definitions for school and childcare settings
WA Government - January 28, 2022The WA Government has announced schools and childcare centres will have their own set of critical worker close contact protocols to reduce movement and minimise the risk of COVID-19 transmission, while also minimising the impact on student learning. The new...
Wings Early Learning revealed as operators of new Manly childcare centre coming in 2023
The Courier Mail - Brayden Heslehurst - January 28, 2022The latest and flashiest centre to join the childcare boom on Brisbane’s bayside will be the first of its kind after the operators of the new $10 million development have been revealed. Wings Early Learning Academy will launch its first centre at 18-22 Ernest St, Manly...
Unlimited allowable absences as Omicron continues path through Australian ECEC
The Sector - January 28, 2022Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services will be able to provide unlimited allowable absences to families throughout January and February 2022 under new measures announced yesterday by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment in a bid to...
