Child Care News

The 7-Eleven mega-sale: Burgess Rawson offers sites worth $70m
The Age - Carolyn Cummins - October 9, 2019

Investors will be lining up at the Burgess Rawson auction where more than 30 properties, ranging from 7-Eleven outlets to supermarkets and childcare centres, are tipped to generate about $130 million combined. Four childcare centres, a KFC, medical facilities, retail properties...

Daycare owner accused of breaking baby’s arm
Wanneroo Times - Tyler Brown - October 8, 2019

A daycare owner accused of breaking a baby’s arm has had her bid to re-open her centre refused. Bindu Nirav Patel, who owns Little Kingdom Family Daycare in Banksia Grove, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault causing bodily harm. It has been alleged Mrs Patel caused a spiral fracture...

Early childhood educator scholarships
Mirage News - October 8, 2019

Early childhood educators could receive scholarships to study La Trobe University’s prestigious Bachelor of Early Childhood Education as part of a new partnership program. G8 Education, Australia’s largest private provider of early education, announced a flagship Bachelor Scholarship program...

Australian Government lends support to infant/child mental health framework
The Sector - Freya Lucas - October 8, 2019

A workforce development strategy designed to build the capabilities of professionals, including those working in early childhood education and care to act early in a child’s life and change their “mental health trajectory” has received the backing of Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt...

Evolve's $11.8m for Melb childcare centres
News.com.au - AAP - October 8, 2019

Evolve Education Group has completed the $11.8 million acquisition of four childcare centres in Melbourne in a move the New Zealand and Australian operator says will add $10.8 million of annualised revenue. Evolve, which in May raised about $60 million in capital, says the acquisition...

Castle Hill Childcare: 70 objections to Darcey Rd proposal
The Daily Telegraph - Jake McCallum, Hills Shire Times - October 8, 2019

Controversial plans for a childcare centre to be built in a Castle Hill residential estate has sparked backlash from neighbours — who have submitted more than 70 objections to plans that claim the proposal will “spell doom” for the community. The proposal for a 63-space childcare centre at 65 Darcey Rd...

Asbestos material allegedly left unsecured at construction site in Melbourne's west
ABC News - Lucy Carter - October 8, 2019

Worksafe Victoria has confirmed it is investigating after suspected asbestos material was allegedly left unsecured near a childcare centre in Melbourne's west. The CFMEU said it had advised the management of the childcare centre that children should not play outside until further notice...

'Extraordinarily hard': Sharp rise in parents of young children working full-time
The Sydney Morning Herald - Caitlin Fitzsimmons - October 6, 2019

The economic pressures of living in Sydney and growing workplace flexibility are driving an increase in parents returning to full-time work before their children reach school age. Official figures provided to The Sun-Herald show the number of couple families with both parents working full time...

What modern parents want from child care
Mercury - Claire Bickers - October 6, 2019

Check-in apps and “play-based learning” are just some of the things modern parents want from child care centres. Fees are just one consideration for mums and dads today, Good Start Early Learning Centre Blackmans Bay director Emma Callanan says. “It’s a lot more than just the place for the children to go..."

Hope for kids to be active
The West Australian - Shannon Smith, Albany Advertiser - October 3, 2019

A new series of workshops to get children active is about to roll out in Albany. Schools, childcare centres and educators are being asked to register their interest for the program run by the University of WA. The Albany workshops are an expansion of the KIDDO program, which is...

Adelaide City Council proposal for childcare in high-rise buildings poses fire safety risk, Australian Childcare Alliance SA says
The Advertiser - Tim Williams - October 3, 2019

Children will face extreme fire risk if childcare centres are allowed in high-rise buildings in the Adelaide CBD, especially in light of fears about flammable cladding, a key industry group says. Australian Childcare Alliance SA president Kerry Mahony said the prospect of upstairs centres...

SA’s cheapest, most expensive child care suburbs revealed
The Advertiser - Claire Bickers - October 3, 2019

Adelaide’s cheapest and most expensive suburbs for child care have been revealed in new data which shows parents are paying more than $14,100 a year in fees. The first child care cost figures released for 2019 also show 10 of the top 100 most expensive regions for child care...

Neighbour's Noise Complaint Threatening Childcare's Outdoor Play Time
10 Daily - Victoria Quested - October 3, 2019

Owners of a Sydney childcare centre are concerned they might lose business, with a noise complaint threatening to cut down the amount of time its children are allowed outside. Evgenia Ousta, director of Bountiful Childcare in Old Toongabbie, was approached by the local council...

Inside alleged child care scam police say made $4m in 10 months
9 News - Natalie Clancy - October 2, 2019

The alleged mastermind behind a scam to steal millions from taxpayers has been caught on camera, literally with more cash than he can handle. Covert footage showed Alee Farmann unable to hold onto a wad of hundred-dollar bills he was waiting to bank. The 49-year-old and his wife...

Bayside parents paying twice as much for childcare
Herald Sun - Susie O'Brien - October 2, 2019

Parents living in bayside Melbourne are charged up to one-third more for childcare than parents in rural Victoria, new data has revealed. Prestigious southeastern council areas such as Bayside, Stonnington, Glen Eira and Port Phillip are charging parents $12 an hour on average for centre...