Child Care News
NSW childcare centres burdened by regulations
The Macleay Argus - October 6, 2017A new survey has found childcare centres across NSW are spending more time than ever on paperwork, compliance requirements and unnecessary red tape at the expense of educational outcomes of children. A survey of 1,700 childcare centres across the state found 62 per cent of staff...
Sleep and the restless preschooler: why policies need to change
The Conversation - Karen Thorpe, Sally Staton, Simon Smith & Susan Irvine - October 6, 2017The legislated regulatory standards for sleep, rest and relaxation in early childhood education and care have changed this week. What are the changes and why have these been made? From October 1, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care requires...
Australian women earn 87 cents to every man's dollar: OECD report
Brisbane Times - Nassim Khadem - October 5, 2017Australian children are less likely than children in many other OECD countries to participate in formal childcare or pre-school. This limits the extent to which Australian mothers engage in paid work, the report said. "While not as expensive as in some other English-speaking countries...
Predator jailed for luring children from North Perth daycare
Perth Now - Shannon Hampton October 4, 2017A CHILD molester who snatched two children from a North Perth school holiday care program and sexually assaulted the pair before abandoning them in a park has been jailed for a decade over his "abhorrent" crimes. Promising the children treats and fun activities, Vincenzo Mule, 54, lured the...
New research found Perth childcare centres could be helping create racial discrimination
Perth Now - Bethany Hiatt - October 4, 2017CHILDCARE centres could be helping create racial discrimination in children by failing to provide books with non-white characters, research suggests. Edith Cowan University researchers surveyed more than 2300 children's books in Perth daycare centres and found that just 5 per cent...
This orange looks good but I can't open it
News.com.au - Jackie Sinnerton - October 4, 2017CHILDREN in child care are being taught how to open a clingwrapped sandwich, rip the top off a yoghurt and peel fruit as schools report pupils are skipping lunch as they struggle to open foods. Timber Tots Child Care in Brisbane's Camp Hill is rolling out classes for three- and...
Disadvantaged kids need more support - not less says Labor
South Coast Register - October 3, 2017The implications for people who are particularly disadvantaged means those people may not be able to qualify for the family tax benefit which means get less access to long day care. "What kids from very disadvantaged backgrounds need is the access and not have the access...
NSW rotavirus outbreak worst in five years
News.com.au - Hannah Higgins - October 2, 2017NSW is in the grip of a surge of a highly-contagious gastro virus after a spate of outbreaks in aged care and child care centres. Experts are investigating whether a mutant strain of the gastro-like rotavirus is responsible for a surge in NSW cases after outbreaks in aged care facilities...
Vaccination is compulsory in childcare but not in schools
The Courier Mail - Sue Dunlevy - September 30, 2017ONE in three parents would be reluctant to enrol their children in a school where there were high numbers of unvaccinated children, an exclusive survey has revealed. Two State Governments, NSW and Victoria, will from next year ban childcare centres from enrolling unvaccinated...
Supercharged vaccines being considered to combat deadly flu
Financial Review - Jill Margo - September 29, 2017Australian health authorities are considering licensing new products capable of boosting the strength of the flu vaccine as they race against time to ensure that next year's vaccine is more effective than the suboptimal one used this year. And the Federal Department of Health, which was exploring...
Melbourne households paying $312 more for electricity than in 2010: ABS study
Herald Sun - Kieran Rooney - September 29, 2017"In the six years since the last survey, the biggest increases in spending on goods and services by households have been in education (44 per cent), household services and operation, including childcare services (up by 30 per cent), energy and health care (both up by 26 per cent),"...
The assets at risk of being too popular
The Courier-Mail - Chris Herde - September 29, 2017DEMAND for freehold childcare centres is at an all time high but with an unprecedented wave of new centres planned there are expectations the market will soften. Australian Childcare Brokers co-owner Andrew Kelly, who has sold about 15 freehold centres this year and about 30 businesses...
How to find a good babysitter and pay them the right rate
ABC News - Amanda Hoh - September 29, 2017Casual or ad-hoc babysitters are considered independent contractors who enter into a contract with the hiring parents, according to the Fair Work Ombudsman. As they are not considered employees, babysitters don't have a minimum wage or pay rate and so have to negotiate payment...
Daycare staff spend hours on politically correct paperwork
The Daily Telegraph - Natasha Bita - September 28, 2017BABIES and toddlers are being monitored for environmental awareness and "non-verbal interaction" as daycare staff drown in PC paperwork. Childcare staff are spending hours writing "reflective journals", creating "mind maps" and keeping "running records" for every child in care...
Merger plans for outside school care groups dropped
The Australian - Bridget Carter - September 27, 2017Bain Capital's Camp Australia and Advent Private Equity's Junior Adventures Group have abandoned merger plans. It comes after concerns about the deal from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission about a loss of competition between the pair - two largest commercial...
