Child Care News
ACA NSW puts politics in the ECEC spotlight ahead of 2019 elections
The Sector - Freya Lucas - January 7, 2019The New South Wales branch of the Australian Childcare Alliance has put politics firmly on the early childhood education and care (ECEC) agenda for 2019, predicting the key election concerns that will face the sector ahead of the 2019 Federal election. The timing comes as a Federal...
Empty childcare centres fret over dramatic preschool expansion
Financial Review - Joanna Mather - January 6, 2019Labor's generous preschool policies could have the unintended effect of exacerbating the childcare place glut without easing costs for families, the nation's largest provider, Goodstart Early Learning, has warned. Although strongly supportive of additional funding for early learning...
New data reveals where the jobs will be in five years
The Courier Mail - Daryl Passmore - January 6, 2019“There is also a healthy trend increase in education, training and child care/early learning positions as growing emphasis is placed on our need to re-skill and keep up with global best practice in all levels of learning.”...
Employment sectors set to boom with Australia’s population
The Daily Telegraph - Melanie Burgess - January 5, 2019Meanwhile, the number of registered nurses would grow by 18.4 per cent (up 51,400 jobs), child carers by 17.6 per cent (27,600 jobs), school teachers by 10.8 per cent (45,900 jobs) and construction trades workers by 6.5 per cent (25,800 jobs)...
7 things only parents working during school holidays will understand
Kidspot - Claire Haiek - January 3, 2019Most full-time employees are awarded four weeks of annual leave each year. School holidays, however, are much more plentiful, leaving many parents short when it comes to child care. Even if you're a two-parent family and you and your partner never have annual leave...
NT businesses fear new migration agreement will continue to be bogged down in bureacracy
NT News - Natasha Emeck - January 2, 2019BUSINESSES hoping to lure more skilled overseas workers to the NT are concerned the Territory’s latest migration agreement with the Federal Government will continue to be bogged down by the bureaucracy. NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he was confident...
Mother to hunger strike for 46 days for healthier food in childcare centres
SBS News - Tom Stayner - January 1, 2019Ruby wants to draw attention to the ‘malnutrition’ of Australian children in childcare – a problem she believes is not being adequately addressed. A collaboration between Healthy Australia and the University of Newcastle found that only five per cent of Australian childcare centres...
The new laws taking effect in NSW from January 1
Sydney Morning Herald - Josh Dye - December 31, 2018All three-year-olds will have access to two days a week of subsidised preschool education. The measure makes NSW the first state to provide access for all children to attend two years of preschool, saving families as much as $800 a year and providing a strong start to early education...
Screen time wrecking children’s sleep, risking mental health
The Australian - Rebecca Urban and Elias Visontay - December 31, 2018Instigated by Health Minister Greg Hunt in September, the inquiry into sleep health awareness has since been inundated with submissions from sleep experts, child psychologists and educators demanding government intervention on the issue of children’s sleep...
Find parenting tough? Be glad you're not American
Sydney Morning Herald - Ross Gittins - December 31, 2018This “economic emancipation of women” has greatly increased the rate at which women participate in the (paid) labour force, making Australians a lot more prosperous, including by creating a lot of jobs for women performing services most women formerly performed for themselves at home, such as childcare...
Government advertising spend jumps $57 million in one year
Sydney Morning Herald - Sally Whyte - December 29, 2018The government spent $11.1 million advertising its new national child care plan, in a campaign that informed parents and child care providers that subsidies would change from being paid directly to families to providers. Families were required to register to be eligible for the new system...
Anti-vaxers, retailers and child abuse survivors impacted by new WA laws from January 1
Perth Now - December 28, 2018Parents who do not vaccinate their children are among those who will be impacted by new legislation coming into effect in Western Australia on January 1. Phase one of the State Government’s no jab, no play policy comes into effect in the new year, with unvaccinated children banned...
Australia's low-paid workforce a threat to wages growth
Sydney Morning Herald - Rebecca Cassells - December 27, 2018Australia is building one of the biggest low-paid workforces in its history, with serious consequences for the economy and wages. Carers – aged care, childcare and disability care workers - have been the No.1 growth occupation in the past 10 years, with an additional 170,000 workers...
Education union election for branch executive found to be invalid after 318 ineligible votes found during Federal Court inquiry
The Advertiser - Mitch Mott - December 26, 2018Only general members are allowed to vote for positions on the executive council.The division includes both permanent and contract teachers but not childcare workers, TAFE employees or school service officers, who have their own specialist union representatives...
Industrial action has marred a mild year in education for 2018 as teachers continue to fight for a wage increase
Tasmania Examiner - Caitlin Jarvis - December 26, 2018A group of 10 children from Launceston’s Northern Suburbs will be part of the Tasmanian education program piloting pre-school for three year olds. The Working Together for 3 Year Olds initiative will trial pre-school programs at five pilot locations in Tasmania..
