Child Care News

First Nations children on the NSW South Coast to benefit from preschool grants
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 13, 2022

Seven Shoalhaven early childhood education and care (ECEC) services have received grants of up to $10,000 which will be used for activities that increase participation in early childhood education, including working with local Aboriginal community members to conduct...

IEU adds to call for more attention to ECEC from Government as COVID-19 continues
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 13, 2022

The NSW/ACT branch of the Independent Education Union (IEU), which represents more than 32,000 early childhood teachers, school teachers, principals and school support staff throughout NSW and the ACT, is warning that COVID-related staff shortages leading to...

Data reveals Australian towns and cities with the most expensive childcare
Honey - Merryn Porter - January 12, 2022

Working parents know the cost of childcare can eat into the family budget to the point it feels like it is hardly worthwhile working. But new data released this week by childcare search and comparison site Care for Kids has shown the average cost of childcare in Australia...

National cabinet: Aussie childcare workers call for free rapid antigen tests
Herald Sun - Zoe Smith - January 12, 2022

Stressed-out Aussie childcare workers are calling on national cabinet to intervene and put new measures in place to protect kids and employees from the ravages of the Omicron surge. With more than 500 services closed and many running at reduced capacity, childcare...

Call for testing kits, staff payments as soaring infections force early learning closures
The Age - Madeleine Heffernan and Tricia Lee Rivera - January 12, 2022

“Our educators are extremely responsible and sometimes they want to get tested, but obviously it’s very difficult. It would be great if they had a way of ensuring that they are safe to come to work,” she said. Such difficulties are common at early learning centres as COVID-19...

Coronavirus: Covid-19 forces closure of 500 childcare centres
The Australian - Natasha Bita - January 12, 2022

More than 500 childcare centres are closed because of Omicron outbreaks, exacerbating staff shortages in shops and hospitals as frontline workers are forced to stay home with their children. In NSW, where 280 centres have closed in Sydney alone, the state’s Education...

New grant funding for local governments to boost childcare places in regional WA
The West Australian - Alexander Scott - January 12, 2022

A new funding pool has been made available to attract and staff to bolster childcare services in regional communities. The $1 million grant will be available over four years with payments of up to $25,000 available for local government authorities to deliver a range...

Teachers may get free rapid tests as NSW mandates reporting
Financial Review - Finbar O'Mallon - January 12, 2022

Teachers and childcare workers will be next in line for priority access to rapid COVID-19 tests in NSW as confusion reigns in the early learning sector over government guidelines. In NSW, frontline workers and vulnerable people are first in line for the next wave of rapid...

UWU calls for National action on ECEC in face of workforce shortages and centre closures
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 12, 2022

The United Workers Union (UWU) has joined the Australian Education Union (AEU) and called for national action from the Federal Government and National Cabinet to protect the young children who attend early education and the educators who care for them. “As the...

Dental screening study for preschoolers may help teeth to stay healthy during pandemic
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 12, 2022

A collaborative study being carried out by researchers from The University of Western Australia, Telethon Kids Institute and Joondalup Health Campus may help preschool aged children to stay healthy and well despite the challenges of face-to-face visits during the...

Good news for Gooloogong as new OSHC service opens to support working families
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 12, 2022

Families on Wiradjuri Country, in the New South Wales village of Gooloogong, have access to before and after school care, and vacation care programs, thanks to the opening of an outside school hours care (OSHC) service run by Cowra Early Childhood Services...

Holiday care programs scaled back, cancelled due to staff shortages
The Sydney Morning Herald - By Lucy Carroll, Mary Ward and Natassia Chrysanthos - January 12, 2022

School holiday care providers are slashing hours and cancelling programs as COVID-19 staffing shortages force dozens of educators into isolation and parents scramble to find alternative care.vThe significant disruption to after-care programs foreshadows the challenges...

Funding for St George early childhood education services
St George & Sutherland Shire Leader - January 12, 2022

Four St George early childhood education services will share in $36,000 under the State Government's community grants program. This will providing additional support for Aboriginal children and children from low income families will across the St George area. The grants...

Free rapid testing available to childcare and kindergarten
Shepparton News - Yarrawonga Chronicle - January 12, 2022

Families with children in childcare services and kindergartens across the Ovens Valley are now able to access free at-home rapid test kits to test against Covid-19. Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said he had previously called for the use of Rapid...

No, Prime Minister, ‘push through or lock down’ are not the only options
Women's Agenda - Georgie Dent - January 11, 2022

We’ve got early learning services closing right around the country because they don’t have enough educators and staff virus-free to remain open. We’ve got early learning services unable to obtain the RATs they need to ensure that the workforce and children are kept safe...