Child Care News

Why taxpayers get a good deal from funding childcare
Sydney Morning Herald - Caitlin Fitzsimmons - March 5, 2017

There's a school of thought that says childcare subsidies are middle-class welfare and parents should foot the entire bill for bringing up their children. It's an ideological position that ignores a more than few realities about the economy and our society. In actual fact, taxpayers get a very good deal on...

Not vaccinating risks health of kids: PM
The Australian - Katina Curtis - March 5, 2017

Malcolm Turnbull has shot down Pauline Hanson's assertion the government is blackmailing parents into vaccinating their children. The prime minister says it's vital to the health of all Australians that close to the whole population be immunised. "If parents choose not to vaccinate their children, they are...

Toddlers practice lockdown drills at preschools and daycare centres
Herald Sun - Jane Hansen - March 5, 2017

SLEEPING babies are woken from their cots and toddlers herded under tables or into storerooms in "lockdown" drills being quietly conducted at every daycare centre and preschool across NSW. The drills, designed to prepare children and staff for a terror ­attack, rampaging gunman or natural disaster...

Au pairs: Lack of regulation leaves young foreigners working in childcare vulnerable
Daily Telegraph - Carleen Frost - March 4, 2017

THE nation's booming au pair industry has come under fire for its lack of regulation and basic guidelines. There are currently very few rules for employing an au pair - an increasingly popular childcare option - with most hired on a handshake arrangement involving board, food and an allowance...

Foreign au-pairs can help parents childcare needs, and the budget
The Australian - Ross Taylor - March 4, 2017

The recent announcement of further changes to childcare support by the federal government will provide a mixed outcome for many parents who are struggling to find - or afford - suitable childcare. Already the Australian Government provides $6.5 billion in subsidies per year for childcare, and...

Commercial property is hot. Here's how to invest wisely in it.
Financial Review - Su-Lin Tan - March 3, 2017

A 26-place fully-booked childcare centre with a 15-year lease in Sydney's popular north shore suburb of Chatswood recently sold for $2.41 million at a record low yield of 3.9 per cent through agent Burgess Rawson. It was the result of frenzied bidding by a packed auction room of buyers, all chasing...

Overall childcare, welfare picture unclear
SBS News - March 2, 2017

Labor and the Greens are determined to find out how many families will be better off, and how many may stand to lose, through child care and tax break changes. How many households will be worse off overall after a shake-up of family tax breaks and child care benefits? It''s the question Labor and...

Childcare deal 'rests on $1.6 billion in cuts'
The Australian - Sarah Martin - March 2, 2017

The Coalition has declared $1.6 billion as the "magic" number needed in budget cuts to pay for childcare reforms, as it flags sacrificing billions of dollars more in proposed savings to win support for its controversial omnibus bill. Having already backpedalled on $2bn in cuts to family tax benefits in a...

Welfare, childcare bill passes lower house
SBS News - March 1, 2017

Parliament's lower house has passed a government bill which makes cuts to some welfare payments while overhauling the childcare system. The federal government's negotiation skills will be put to the test as it attempts to convince the Senate crossbench to support controversial changes to...

Childcare centres serving too many unhealthy treats
Courier Mail - Jackie Sinnerton - March 1, 2017

JUNK food is habitually served to children at childcare centres as educators are too afraid to question the established mealtime culture. An Australian study of 1000 childcare workers has found staff let down children by routinely serving foods such as baked treats, processed meats and sausages...

Perth childcare centres to make parents wear photo ID for drop offs amid security concerns
ABC News - Emma Wynne - March 1, 2017

A Perth childcare operator has introduced photo identification badges for parents in a bid to further bolster security. While some parents complained the measure was overkill and the tags would be a burden to remember, the centre's owners believed it was a necessary security measure. The School...

Debate on welfare cuts, childcare kicks on
SBS News - February 28, 2017

Labor is set to continue its attack on the government''s proposed cuts to welfare and the use of those savings to fund child care reforms. Debate on the omnibus bill dominated parliamentary business on Monday and will resume in the lower house on Tuesday afternoon. The Turnbull government...

Federal Government reveals latest widespread childcare claim rorting
Herald Sun - Rob Harris - February 27, 2017

A MELBOURNE grandmother ripped off taxpayers to the tune of $900,000 in childcare benefits as part of "hotbed for shonks and rorters" operating in suburban communities. The Federal Government revealed the latest widespread rorting of childcare claims on Monday amid new measures...

Worker Shortage Drives Japanese Companies Into Child Care
Bloomberg - Yoshiaki Nohara - February 28, 2017

Faced with a shortage of workers, Japanese companies are taking matters into their own hands, helping the government fix a chronic lack of day care that is blunting efforts to get more women into the workforce. Nichiigakkan Co., which provides hospital administration and care services, is among...

Children in deprived areas more likely to go into care
BBC - February 28, 2017

Children living in Wales' most deprived areas are 16 times more likely to go into care than those living in the most affluent areas, new research has found. The Child Welfare Inequalities Project found one in 60 children is in care in England's most deprived areas, compared with one in 660 in the least deprived...