Child Care News
Guilty working mum? Relax. Your kids will be fine
The Sydney Morning Herald - Mini Perkins - December 19, 2016Are you a busy, juggling, occasionally guilt-stricken working mama? Good news! Going back to work early is not going to harm your child's development, according to new research spanning three industrialised countries, including Australia. Researchers found there was little cognitive or behavioural difference...
New boss takes reins of childcare operator G8 Education
Gold Coast Bulletin - Alister Thomson - December 16, 2016LONGTIME G8 Education boss Chris Scott will take a back seat and let chief finance officer Gary Carroll take the reins of Australia's largest listed childcare operator. Mr Scott said the move for Mr Carroll to become managing director and chief executive was part of a succession plan for...
Summer holidays are here. Mothers, shut up and get on with it
The Age - Kasey Edwards - December 14, 2016Before my daughter started school, I had no idea that school-aged children had 12 weeks of school holidays every year. TWELVE, people! And some of the private schools have 17 weeks, which just goes to show that you can pay more and get less. It was just too crazy to even contemplate. Who's...
Big REITs make comeback with Brookfield delivering 135 pc: B
Financial Review - Matthew Cranston - December 13, 2016ARENA REIT, which came into fourth from sixth last year expects further competition for assets in the childcare sector. "Key to the childcare sector will be the impact of new supply entering the market, and the outcome of the federal government''s proposed changes to childcare funding," ARENA's...
Changes to school uniform policy in SA means parents at preschools get right to vote for dress code
The Advertiser - Miles Kemp - December 13, 2016PARENTS at government preschools will have their rights to have a uniform or dress code included in Education Department policy for the first time. And students at secondary and primary schools will be allowed more religious and cultural freedom with adornments or jewellery such as...
Hong Kong's Fullshare buys into Sparrow childcare
Financial Review - Nick Lenaghan - December 12, 2016Hong Kong-listed healthcare provider Fullshare Holdings has taken control of private childcare operator Sparrow Early Learning in a $66.5 million deal. The Hong Kong player will acquire 90 per cent of the shares in Sparrow, buying out its minority investors and much of the holding of its majority...
'We're overworked, overlooked and grossly, grossly underpaid'
Sydney Morning Herald - Joanna Marshall - December 12, 2016If you've ever thought looking after a toddler on a bad day is hard, try 11 of them. In one room. Now add teething, screaming, vicious biting, scratching out eyes, inconsolable crying and poo, so much stinky stranger poo. Now let's try and get these children, fed, well rested, unscathed, clean and...
Bain Capital acquires Camp Australia; Citi, Westpac bankroll bid
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald & Joyce Moullakis - December 12, 2016Bain Capital Private Equity has acquired Camp Australia, which provides before-and after-hours care in schools throughout Australia. It is understood the private equity giant and its adviser Citigroup were bedded down in final negotiations over the weekend. Citi and Westpac are bankrolling the bid, leading the debt...
Accusations family day care is open to fraudsters because of inadequate compliance checks
ABC News - Stephanie Ferrier - December 10, 2016The Victorian Government has accused Canberra of failing to properly fund compliance checks in the family day care sector, leaving the industry open to fraudsters claiming millions of dollars in taxpayers' money. The political showdown was expected to be brought to a head at the Education Council...
Regulatory risks hit Camp Australia auction
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald & Joyce Moullakis - December 7, 2016Reputational and operational risks are big considerations around any merger or acquisition process. But as Bain Capital and KKR & Co prepare to lob final bids for Camp Australia - by close of business on Thursday - and with Archer Capital''s interest said to be cooling, the auction has hit a...
Australia's largest after-school care company banned from tendering for new contracts in NSW
ABC News - Ursula Malone - December 7, 2016The country's largest before-and-after-school care company, Camp Australia, has been banned from tendering for new contracts or renewing existing contracts at government schools in New South Wales, for failing to meet quality requirements. The New South Wales Education Department...
Early childhood educators fight for pay to boost standards
The Age - Anna Patty - December 7, 2016The Federal Government has been accused of under-investing in early childhood education at the same time Australian school children fall two years behind children in other comparable countries. Early childhood educators chained themselves outside Treasurer Scott Morrison's Sydney...
Investors hold back as commercial property auctions fizz
Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - December 7, 2016Childcare centres trumped petrol stations as investors took a more cautious approach to commercial property investment at the final portfolio auction of the year. Sixteen out of 29 properties sold under the hammer in Melbourne on Wednesday at a Burgess Rawson auction, achieving a modest clearance...
Holidays often bring stressful times for parents trying to balance work, time off, and children''s care and entertainment
Courier Mail - Amanda Horswill - December 7, 2016CHILDREN might be relieved that school is over for the year, but for many parents, it's the start of an often-stressful childcare juggle. Parental and carer lobby group The Parent Hood executive director Jo Briskey said employers could do more to help ease this burden for working parents...
Stick it on the fridge: your form guide for political 'progress' 2017
The Guardian - Kristina Keneally - December 6, 2016The Coalition is dedicating the savings in PPL to support a new childcare package. Announced in the 2015 budget, the Coalition is promising to reform the childcare subsidy to deliver “simpler, more affordable, accessible, and flexible” childcare. It is also committing an additional $3bn to childcare...
