Child Care News

Childcare services set for Karoonda
The Mercury Valley Standard - Sharon Hansen - June 3, 2019

Families in Karoonda and surrounds could have access to a new childcare service from as early as September. The Karoonda East Murray council is asking for families to register their interest in long day care and out of school hours care as it finalises arrangements for Karoonda Kids Community Care...

Police shut down nearly 200 fake day care centres across NSW after uncovering terror and bikie links
Herald Sun - Janet Fife-Yeomans, The Daily Telegraph - June 3, 2019

Almost 200 NSW daycare centres — some linked to funding for overseas terrorism, bikie gangs and fraud — have been shut down. The banned daycare centres — the majority of which are located in southwest Sydney — include those linked to the Fairfield-based Red Roses Family Day Care...

Occasional child care centre up for auction as CBD development surges ahead
The Courier - Michelle Smith - June 2, 2019

The auction sign has gone up on Ballarat Council's Occasional Care Centre in Armstrong Street North, with strong interest expected in the vacant building which sits at the heart of massive CBD redevelopment. With a large yard in the back of the childcare centre, the 965sqm block...

Parents hunt for childcare centres with strict vaccination policies
The Courier Mail - Sophie Chirgwin - June 2, 2019

Cautious parents are choosing their children’s day care centres based on whether they have strong immunisation policies as health experts stress the importance of vaccinations. The Courier-Mail spoke with parents who hunt around to find a child care centre that only accepts vaccinated children...

Childcare sector dodges subsidy bullet
The Sydney Morning Herald - Tim Boreham - June 1, 2019

The $17 billion childcare sector unwittingly may have dodged a bullet from Labor’s federal election defeat, which spelt the end of the party’s vaunted $4 billion of extra support for the sector. In theory, the measures – notably increased subsidies worth up to $1400 a year for working parents...

Glen Waverley: Bambou Early Learning Centre evacuated due to fire
Herald Sun - Serena Seyfort, Monash Leader - May 31, 2019

Children and staff were forced to take cover at a Glen Waverley childcare centre this morning after a neighbouring house went up in flames. Bambou Early Learning Centre supervisor Jackie Collier said she could see “really large flames” behind the centre as she was arriving at work...

TasWeekend: Au pairs in Tasmania giving the cheap solution to help improve work-life balance
Mercury - Linda Smith - May 31, 2019

Hobart working mum Kylie Leard had never considered hiring a live-in babysitter until her boss suggested the idea. Until that moment, Leard, from Geilston Bay, had thought nannies and au pairs were for the rich and famous, a luxury that everyday Tasmanian families couldn’t afford...

Discussion paper on whether to enforce No Jab, No Play rule to keep non-vaccinated children out of early childcare services
The Advertiser - Brad Crouch - May 31, 2019

A discussion paper on the No Jab, No Play approach to protecting children against vaccine-preventable diseases is being released for public consultation today. It proposes that children need to be appropriately immunised, on an immunisation catch-up program or be exempt for medical reasons...

What if mums actually want to stay home with their babies?
The Daily Telegraph - Dr Jane Fynes-Clinton - May 30, 2019

When men become fathers, not much changes. When women become mums, the shift is seismic. A new study on parental leave is being held up as the ultimate proof that Australia is still a land divided along gender lines. Commentators see this as simply shameful, sad and sexist...

NSW QLE grants extended to include NFP long day care centres
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 30, 2019

The Quality Learning Environments (QLE) grants program, which aims to support eligible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services to improve their learning environments to positively impact experiences and outcomes for preschool-aged children, has been extended to include not-for-profit...

Greater early learning access made possible through Goodstart and Uniting partnership
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 30, 2019

Following on from “months of preparation”, a partnership between Goodstart Early Learning and Uniting (NSW/ACT) will see an increasing number of Goodstart centres offering support to children and families who are struggling to afford quality early learning. Utilising funds from the Giving@Goodstart program...

$35m community hub, supermarket poised for Elara estate in Marsden Park
Blacktown Advocate - Kate Lockley - May 30, 2019

A new community hub, featuring a supermarket, medical centre and childcare facilities could become a reality at Elara Marsden Park, pending approval from Blacktown Council. The $35.5 million proposal lodged with the council would involve the construction of a neighbourhood centre with...

Five people appear in court over $3.8m child care fraud
The Daily Telegraph - Sarah Crawford - May 29, 2019

Alee Farmann, 49, of Georges Hall did not enter a plea when he appeared at Bankstown Local Court today charged with knowingly direct activities of a criminal group between July 2 last year and May 8. Police will allege 150 parents signed up to the fake business Red Roses Family Day Care with each...

Plans unveiled for Ryde Civic Centre redevelopment
The Daily Telegraph - Matt Taylor - May 29, 2019

A new plaza, childcare facilities and cultural hub for concerts are among the key features of plans unveiled today for a massive makeover of the Ryde Civic Centre site. Dubbed “The New Heart of Ryde”, the Times can exclusively reveal the redevelopment will see a fourfold increase in community space...

CCC commends Victorian Government for early learning funding commitment
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 29, 2019

Daniel Andrews’ Victorian Government is “leading the country in early childhood” with their commitment to enact two years of funded early learning for Victorian children, and address workforce shortages through the provision of free TAFE courses in early childhood, the Community Child Care Association...