Child Care News
Early learning and literacy key to success on Palm Island
Townsville Bulletin - Bettina Warburton - October 5, 2018AN early language and literacy program on Palm Island is reaping results and changing lives, an indigenous educator on the remote island says. Nazareth Youngblutt, who has been at the forefront of early learning on Palm Island for decades, said the community had thrown its support...
Scott Morrison attacks Labor's $9.8bn early childhood education scheme
The Guardian - Paul Karp - October 4, 2018Scott Morrison has refused to rule out extending early childhood education to three-year-olds but attacked Labor's $9.8bn 10-year promise for lacking detail about cooperation with the states. On Thursday Bill Shorten unveiled Labor's policy to permanently grant universal access to preschool...
Vic Labor to fund $5b childcare changes
SBS News - October 4, 2018A re-elected Victorian Labor government would push ahead with a $5 billion plan for part-time kindergarten for three-year-olds with or without the help from Canberra. Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement in Melbourne on Thursday alongside federal Opposition leader...
Bill Shorten reveals $1.7bn plan to fund access to preschool or kindergarten
The Guardian - Katharine Murphy and Paul Karp - October 4, 2018Labor will unveil a new plan to give both three and four-year-olds access to 600 hours of preschool or kindergarten in a $1.75bn funding commitment if Bill Shorten wins the next federal election. The initiative, to be revealed by Shorten on Thursday, would extend 15 hours per week...
ACTU secretary Sally McManus attacks enterprise bargaining as 'failing system'
Financial Review - David Marin-Guzman - October 3, 2018Ms McManus is proposing employers and workers, from childcare centres to universities, be given the option to negotiate wages and conditions across industries to "improve productivity, quality and innovate new products and services". In her speech, she cites a paper by economist..
Gary Carroll, of Gold Coast-based G8 Education: 'We are a 500-centre, 10,000-staff start up'
Gold Coast Bulletin - Alister Thomson - October 3, 2018IT may seem strange, but Gary Carroll, who heads up Australia's largest for-profit childcare operator, believes G8 Education is a start-up. A start-up based on the Gold Coast that just happens to have 10,000 staff and more than 500 childcare centres throughout Australia...
Children develop better social and emotional skills in daycare
The Courier Mail - Jill Poulsen - October 3, 2018CHILDREN who go to daycare are better off than those looked after at home, research out today reveals. According to the research, children who attend a childcare centre staffed by professionals have lower odds of poor social skills, difficult relationships with peers and behavioural issues...
Woollahra council 'needs to step in' as eastern suburbs daycare woes worsen
The Daily Telegraph - Emily Macdonald - October 3, 2018WOOLLAHRA council is taking further steps towards running a long daycare facility following the closure of three centres in the area. Paddington Church of Christ Kindergarten with 28 places and the 25 spot Bo Peep Kindergarten Rose Bay have already shut with the Benevolent Society...
Snakes and ladders: Why women's superannuation is complex
ABC News The Conversation - Kathleen Riach - October 3, 2018But inflexible work structures, hard to get child care, expensive child care, and enduring social norms make it hard to exercise choice. Taken too far, the idea that women are free to make choices can lead to unhelpful suggestions that they should bear the financial consequences...
City of Greater Geelong analysing nine childcare centre planning permits amid soaring baby boom
Geelong Advertiser - Tamara McDonald - October 2, 2018THE region is experiencing a childcare boom, with nine planning permit applications for childcare centres before the City of Greater Geelong. Seven planning permit applications for childcare centres have been approved this year, the acting director of planning and development...
The NDIS is delivering 'reasonable and necessary' supports for some, but others are missing out
The Conversation - Carmel Laragy - October 1, 2018The highest satisfaction scores came from the families of children with a developmental or congenital disability. They received Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) support for children under six years to develop skills needed for daily activities. The NDIS insurance approach...
Regional areas must insist on high quality care | Opinion
Newcastle Herald - Phillip O'Neill - October 1, 2018I read with dismay last week an opinion piece on these pages headed 'Childcare policy failing regional Australia'. It was written by Eugenie Joseph from the Centre for Independent Studies. The article attacked the regulation of child care in regional areas. Ms Joseph argued...
Hands-on fathers 'less likely to break up with partners'
The Guardian - Mark Rice-Oxley - September 30, 2018Surveys and studies show that during the crunch early years of their children's lives, many men still felt financially, professionally and culturally unable to take time off or downshift. Men said it was hard to persuade employers to take their request for leave seriously...
Literacy and numeracy bound ahead in preschool thanks to cutting-edge approach
The Daily Telegraph - Lisa Mayoh - September 29, 2018A WORLD-first NSW childcare program emphasising science and maths while encouraging preschoolers to get more involved in class discussion and problem-solving has doubled literacy skills and delivered massive jumps in numeracy in seven months. And educators were left...
After-school care: Kids could be stranded with new staff ratio rule
ABC News - Ursual Malone - September 28, 2018Hundreds of families who rely on minibuses to transport their children to after-school care could be left in the lurch due to new government regulations. From Monday, after-school care providers will be required to employ an extra staff member on the bus as well as the driver. Some operators...
