Child Care News
Comprehensive summary of key ECEC sector trends detailed in latest “State of early learning in Australia” report
The Sector - Jason Roberts - November 26, 2019The Early Learning: Everyone Benefits campaign has released the 3rd edition of its State of early learning in Australia 2019 report in which a high-level snapshot of quality, participation and affordability in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector across Australia...
Bellmere child care facility sold for $4.7 million
Property Observer - November 25, 2019A childcare centre in Bellmere, just north of Brisbane has been sold for $4.68 million transaction. The purpose-built property is occupied on a 15-year lease with option by the UK-based childcare group, Busy Bees, a global childcare organisation backed by a Canadian pension fund with...
Failing to meet the standards: the worst-performing childcare centres
The Sydney Morning Herald - Pallavi Singhal - November 25, 2019Nearly 40 per cent of private for-profit childcare services are failing to reach the national quality standard, compared to about 15 per cent of government run services. In total, about 74 per cent of early childhood education services are meeting or exceeding the national standard...
Quality is the star in education and care rating
NSW Department of Education - November 25, 2019A family friendly ratings guide for children’s education and care services was announced this week, giving NSW parents access to more information about how their service rates under the National Quality Framework. Dorothy the Dinosaur danced her way through the media launch...
Teaching for Tomorrow – G8 Education’s quality push for early childhood teachers
The Sector - Freya Lucas - November 25, 2019Australia’s ongoing challenges with meeting the requirements for early childhood teachers (ECTs) in a variety of program types are well documented. Recently The Sector spoke with Julie Madgwick, G8’s Head of Early Learning and Education, and Jane Dunstan, G8 Practice Development Manager...
‘Clearer and simpler’ star system to show A&R results causes controversy in NSW
The Sector - Freya Lucas - November 25, 2019The New South Wales Government has announced what they termed “a clearer and simpler rating system” for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services over the weekend. The intention of the new four star rating system is to make the National Quality Framework ratings easier...
Affinity extends a helping hand to RFS as bushfires threaten NSW communities
The Sector - Freya Lucas - November 25, 2019With much of New South Wales and Queensland under threat from bushfires last week, educators and leaders from a variety of Affinity Education Group were quick to respond, stepping up their community spirit and arranging for donations to support those most in need...
Australia fails on early childhood education
Financial Review - Tom McIlroy - November 25, 2019The percentage of Australian families with two parents in the workforce is increasing, as new data shows the number of couples with both adults employed full time doubling. Data from the latest snapshot of early learning in Australia shows in 2013 the number of couple families in which...
An economic argument for extending preschool to two years
Financial Review - Robert Bolton - November 25, 2019The Morrison government could save $15.2 billion off the budget bottom line if it was prepared to outlay more on early childhood including an extra year of pre-school, according to a group of organisations and companies which includes Woodside Energy and Andrew Forrest's Minderoo Foundation...
Early learning report highlights decline in government investment
The Daily Telegraph - Clare Masters, News Corp Australia Network - November 25, 2019Families across Australia are facing deep inequity in terms of access to early learning, according to a new report card from the peak early childhood advocacy group. The State of early learning in Australia 2019 report card shows Australia is lagging behind other developed countries...
ACT childcare providers say the sector needs better planning to address oversupply
The Canberra Times - Elliot Williams - November 25, 2019The amount and location of childcare centres in the ACT requires better planning to combat an oversupply of centres, an alliance of childcare providers says.
Melbourne childcare centre replaces screens with hardware tools
7 News - Digital Staff, Sunrise - November 25, 2019A Melbourne childcare centre is offering woodwork classes to their under-five kinder kids to teach safety. The centre has replaced screen time with woodwork classes, putting hardware tools in children's hands to help them to problem solve and learn new skills.
Holidays a headache for working parents
Perth Now - Kate Emery, Kate Ryan and Bethany Hiatt - November 24, 2019It is the annual question that plagues working families as temperatures rise and Christmas looms: what to do with the kids? The so-called school holiday conundrum reflects the disparity between WA school children’s entitlement to about 12 weeks a year and the four weeks of paid leave...
Camp Australia’s penalties and fines as new CEO came from shut down training program
Herald Sun - Sue Dunlevy, News Corp Australia Network - November 24, 2019The man at the head of an after-school care service provider fined for breaching quality standards had previously headed a vocational training program shut down by the Federal Government. Warren Jacobsen is the new CEO of Camp Australia which operates 665 after school care services...
New star rating system will highlight underperforming childcare centres
The Sydney Morning Herald - Pallavi Singhal - November 23, 2019Expensive Sydney childcare centres that are failing to meet health and safety, educational and staffing standards will be forced to display ratings that fall as low as one star from next year. All early childhood learning centres in NSW will have to display their National Quality Standard rating...
