Child Care News
Affinity Education pitched with $60m earnings, eyes on funding
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald & Joyce Moullakis - May 3, 2018If you're unsure about what upcoming changes to child care funding and rebates mean for you and your family, ask a private equity type. Government funding is the No.1 item on the agenda of buyout firms running the numbers on up-for-sale Affinity Education Group, which owns more than...
G8 Education expects new funding package to counteract falling occupancy rates
Proactive Investors - May 3, 2018G8 Education Ltd (ASX:GEM) notes the supply environment continues to be challenging in childcare, with like-for-like (LFL) occupancy down around 2.5 to 3% so far in 2018. While LFL occupancy is decreasing, prior year acquisitions continue to grow occupancy and are forecast to deliver earnings...
Meet the male educators paving the way for other men to follow their lead into childcare
News.com.au - Martina Simos - May 2, 2018FOUR male educators in an early childhood setting are paving the way for others to follow their lead. According to the latest ABS figures less than one per cent of workers in the childcare industry are men. But early childhood teachers Robb Liversage, 35, Daniel Monro, 44, Stephen Thronett...
Indigenous childcare providers say low income, unemployed families to suffer under changes from July
ABC News - Chloe Hart - May 2, 2018Indigenous childcare providers say the most vulnerable children and families will be cut off under the Federal Government's $1.6 billion childcare package which comes into effect in July. Changes mean Indigenous and non-Indigenous parents who are not working or studying could...
State Budget 2018: Free TAFE, pre-apprentice courses in $172 million education splash cash
Herald Sun - Ashley Argoon - May 1, 2018Early childcare also gets a $135.9 million boost, with buildings, upgrades and specialist language teachers for 120 kinders and $8 million for scholarships to attract new teachers and upskill those in the workforce. "Building the Education State begins with the early years," Minister...
Blue Sky's Foundation Early Learning childcare sale finally done, but far below book value
Courier Mail - Liam Walsh - May 1, 2018A BLUE Sky-backed childcare chain has sold for far less than expected, raising questions about the valuation process espoused by the Brisbane-based fund manager. The disappointing result from the sale of Brisbane-based Foundation Early Learning, a 31-centre chain...
Victorian state budget 2018-19: Tim Pallas' budget for the burbs, big spending on mental health and free TAFE Courses
The Age - Benjamin Preiss, Adam Carey & Noel Towell - May 1, 2018Victoria's embattled childcare system will get $225 million to hire 450 more child protection workers. In child services, almost $400 million will be spent to move young people out of residential units and into family and kinship care...
Blue Sky sells childcare assets at discount to carrying value
Financial Review - Vesna Poljak - May 1, 2018Short-seller Glaucus has claimed another scalp in the bitter war with target Blue Sky Alternative Investments after Blue Sky exited its childcare business at up to a 23 per cent discount to carrying value. The sale was disclosed by Blue Sky's listed investment company, which is a co-investor...
Ten of region's childcare, early learning centres to share in $620,000
Geelong Advertiser - Harrison Tippet - April 30, 2018ALMOST a dozen of the region's childcare and early learning centres will share in $620,000 funding support from the Federal Government. On Monday Corangamite federal Liberal MP Sarah Henderson announced the funding through her Government''s new Community Child...
Childcare changes will see 2984 Illawarra families worse off: Labor
Illawarra Mercury - Argon Latifi - April 30, 2018Almost 3000 Illawarra families will be worse off come July 2 if the Federal Government's new child care package sees the light of day. That's what Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Development, Amanda Rishworth told the assembled media at the Boombalee...
Stockland building childcare centres into new developments
The Australian - Turi Condon - April 30, 2018Stockland will develop and own childcare centres as part of its residential communities. Seven are in the pipeline, and the first will be a $3.7 million centre on the Sunshine Coast. The diversified property group, which releases its quarterly update today, said the first project would...
Little children's activity and play levels too low
The Australian - Victoria Laurie - April 29, 2018One event was the release of a report about the lack of time that childcare-aged children spend in active play. The second was the launch of a "nature play" program for three to five-year-olds to experience nature, under supervision and inside a multi-million-dollar fenced playground...
Australia's most senior unionist draws big crowd to Hobart May Day rally
ABC News - Lucy Shannon - April 29, 2018Union member and early education worker Alison Walker became emotional describing her low pay and struggle to make ends meet. "We need jobs and pay packets that we can rely on. I'm struggling really badly and I'm going back financially every fortnight," she said. "Its just untenable...
Benefits of play lost in a system locked on learning
The Australian - Victoria Laurie - April 28, 2018Play time is on the decline at home, in childcare and in the early years of schooling, causing concern for educators and parents. Early Childhood Australia is working on a play strategy model that it says could be adopted Ânationwide to restore play to its natural role in child...
Mayor candidate's company failed to keep children safe
The Age - Richard Baker - April 28, 2018Melbourne lord mayoral candidate Ken Ong was the sole director of a childcare business convicted last year of failing to keep children safe after a child twice escaped from a Point Cook centre. The connection of the former City of Melbourne councillor and Liberal Party member...
