Child Care News

Budget 2017: What it means for you
News.com.au - May 10, 2017

On the plus side, the Budget includes $37.3 billion for child care over three years from July, to be allocated to about one million Australian families. A single, means-tested child care subsidy will replace previous child care benefits and rebates. Families earning $185,710 or less and who need to...

Melbourne childcare centre portfolio sales top $44m
Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - May 9, 2017

The six childcare centres were put up for sale by the Rossi and Agosta families with long-term leases in place to major operators including ASX-listed G8 Education, Guardian Early Learning and Nino Early Learning Adventures. Three of the childcare centres sold for more than $9 million...

Parents of children at Heritage Childcare Centre should consider blood-tests after high lead levels discovered
Canberra Times - Daniel Burdon - May 9, 2017

The parents of 85 children attending Heritage Childcare Centre at ANU should consider blood-testing their children after high lead levels were found in dust and flaking lead paints at the centre. After a parent complained to the university about flaking paint at the childcare centre last month, ANU...

Federal Budget 2017: Welfare whack for middle-class families
Herald Sun - Tom Minear, Rob Harris & Mikaela Day - May 9, 2017

Families with children in childcare receive more assistance, with the government's $1.6 billion childcare package covering 85 per cent of the fees paid by low-income families. A family on $80,000, with both parents in full-time work and two children under six in daily childcare, will now be...

Lucky Stars Early Learning Centre in Elizabeth Park and Virginia has dropped prices to just $1 a day
The Advertiser - Matt Smith - May 6, 2017

IT is one of the hot button issues for working parents: affordable childcare. Now, one South Australian centre has dropped prices to just $1 a day in a bid to attract new clients. And the industry says the move highlights the financial struggles childcare centres face with new facilities being built quicker than demand grows...

Queensland Government extends grants for female researchers
The Courier-Mail - Janelle Miles - May 6, 2017

QUEENSLAND Science Minister Leeanne Enoch has extended a program to assist female researchers in continuing their work while on maternity leave, or caring for young children, with grants of up to $25,000. The grants can be used to assist with the costs of childcare, to hire someone to carry on their...

Canberra company Skoolbo takes to world stage with new TV program
Brisbane Times - Michael Gorey - May 6, 2017

Canberra learning technology company Skoolbo launched a new television program called Preschool Play in Singapore last month.The program features more than 500, eight-minute episodes that can be played at the beginning of the school day to get 3-5 year-olds dancing and learning while they play...

Budget 2017: childcare handed $428m in extended funding deal
The Australian - Sarah Martin - May 5, 2017

States have secured an extra $428 million to extend an agreement on early childhood educa­tion, as the government flags ending the funding deal once its new childcare ­reforms come into effect next year. Announcing a one-year extension to the agreement that gives all pre-school children access to 15...

Migrant grandparent visa to be rolled out
7News.com.au - May 4, 2017

Assistant Immigration Minister Alex Hawke told SBS he expects there to be some savings on child care costs because grandparents will be able to babysit. The visa program is expected to start in November so long as legislation passes parliament...

Kids get free preschool for another year
SBS News - May 4, 2017

Australia's youngest students will be guaranteed free access to preschool for another year with the federal government extending its funding pledge. The commonwealth and states jointly fund a guaranteed 15 hours a week of preschool for four-year-olds. Education Minister Simon Birmingham told the...

"Please explain" for Gold Coast's G8 Education after share price plunge on oversupply fears
Gold Coast Bulletin - Jenny Rogers - May 4, 2017

THE Gold Coast's G8 Education was forced to issue a "please explain" after its shares were smashed in heavy trading yesterday. Australia's largest listed childcare operator was one of the worst performers on the market after the share price plunge. Shares in G8 fell almost 11 per cent before closing 30¢...

There's a new 'Best Places to Work' list. This time it's for dads
Financial Review - Michael Alison Chandler - May 3, 2017

Up to a year of paid leave. On-site child care. Flexible work schedules. These are some of the paternity benefits that top companies offer employees, according to a list released Tuesday of the '50 Best Places to Work for New Dads.' These companies are angling to attract and retain a new generation...

Talking Point: Put young children first
The Mercury - Ros Cornish - May 2, 2017

But despite the positives of the reforms, families on low incomes will have their access to subsidised early childhood education and care halved, while other families will miss out altogether. This is not the best outcome for vulnerable children, with modelling undertaken by ANU estimated that...

Canberra parents pay most for childcare provided by least qualified staff
The Canberra Times - Emily Baker - May 1, 2017

A new report shows that Canberra families continue to pay considerably more than anyone else in the country for childcare provided by the least qualified staff. The latest Productivity Commission figures reveal Canberrans forked out an average of $525 each week for 50 hours of centre-based day...

Sydney suburbs are oversupplied with childcare places: long day care industry
Sydney Morning Herald - Kelsey Munro - April 30, 2017

The childcare industry says there is an oversupply of childcare in the inner-city and middle-ring suburbs of Sydney, in news that will surprise parents stuck on waiting lists for the hours they need. The claim is in stark contrast to warnings from the federal Opposition which says the population...