Child Care News
Rise of the Nan Van
ABC - Evenings with Sarah Howells - October 26, 2016Getting the grandparents to do a bit of child minding is not a new concept, but motoring body RACQ has picked up a bit of an interesting trend lately. New research has shown nearly one in three cars that are being fitted with child car seat belong to the grandparents, not the parents. It's something...
Preschooler death 'unrelated' to gastro outbreak
Sydney Morning Herald - Harriet Alexander - October 26, 2016Health authorities believe that the death of a preschooler on Sunday was not related to a gastro outbreak at the childcare centre attended by the child on the lower north shore. The child, whose gender and age have not been released, died in hospital, where several children from Little Zak's...
Why Young Rich lister Mark Woodland didn't bootstrap childcare centre platform Xplor
Financial Review - John Stensholt - October 26, 2016Mark Woodland, the founder of childcare software firm Xplor, is one entrepreneur who believes in the value of taking on venture capital funding while a company is in its early stages of growth. While some extol the virtues of raising no funds and attempting to "bootstrap" their company...
The billions we spend on childcare is failing women, the economy and children
The Canberra Times - Matt Wade - October 25, 2016But childcare is more than a household issue. It now plays a crucial role in the Australian economy. What's more, it is a policy area that, when done well, can boost productivity, reduce social inequalities and promote gender equality. With a trifecta like that, you'd expect it would be at the top of the...
'They don't care': Paid Parental Leave cut leaves women devastated
WA Today - Jenna Price - October 25, 2016And now the federal government has thrown the family's immediate future in chaos by cutting access to government-funded parental leave at the last minute - and expectant parents all over Australia have been hung out to dry by the sudden shift, which could be implemented as early as January 1...
Victoria's top kindergarten teacher says children too busy in front of screens
Herald Sun - Evonne Madden - October 24, 2016PRESCHOOLERS are too busy and need more old-fashioned play and communication, says Victoria's top kindergarten teacher. The effects of too much "screen time" and too little physical activity are seen in preschools, according to the Early Childhood Teacher of the Year, Meagan Hull. Having...
DEXUS and Guardian help with the childcare
Financial Review - Robert Harley - October 24, 2016Australia's largest office owner and manager, the DEXUS Property Group, will be able to give the mums and dads who work in its towers improved access to childcare. The group has formed a partnership with the Guardian Early Life Group, which will provide DEXUS customers with priority on wait lists...
Turnbull government 'faces massive public backlash' over paid parental leave crackdown
Sydney Morning Herald - Matthew Knott - October 23, 2016The Turnbull government has been warned it will face a "massive backlash" from pregnant women if it pushes ahead with a planned crackdown on paid parental leave "double dipping" that could start as early as January. Labor is calling on the Senate crossbench to block the move, which could affect up...
The mums who swapped fulltime careers for parenthood
The Daily Telegraph - Mercedes Maguire - October 22, 2016About 50 per cent of Australian women with a child under 12 months choose home over the workplace. That figure has been dropping steadily since the 1980s, and by the time children are five, only 38 per cent of mums are not in paid employment, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures...
Pundit warns school starting age destined to become key election issue after Government delays change
ABC News - Georgie Burgess - October 21, 2016The Tasmanian Government's push to lower the school starting age is shaping up to be a state election issue as concerns about the move continue to mount, according to a politics expert. The Government said it would spend another year consulting on its proposal to allow children as young as three...
Childcare: Coalition to push Labor to support its $3bn package
The Guardian - Gareth Hutchens - October 21, 2016The Turnbull government plans to pressure Labor to support its $3bn childcare package, saying that is the next substantial policy package that ought to pass parliament. Fresh from its compromise deal with Labor on its "omnibus" savings bill last month, which delivered $6.3bn in budget...
Upper House members give in-principle support to school age changes
The Mercury - Loretta Lohberger - October 20, 2016THE Legislative Council has given "in-principle" support to a proposal to lower Tasmania's school starting age, but more consultation will be done before the Parliament makes a final decision on the reform. To allay concerns raised by some independent members of the Legislative Council...
Broken childcare needs radical reform: ALP
News.com.au - Katina Curtis - October 19, 2016Australia''s childcare system is broken beyond immediate repair and Labor wants to look at how it can be radically reformed. Too many parents have told opposition spokeswoman for early childhood education Kate Ellis child care is too complicated, too hard to navigate, too inconvenient and too...
Melbourne woman pleads guilty over million-dollar day care scam
ABC News - James Hancock - October 19, 2016A Melbourne woman has admitted to defrauding the Commonwealth over a multi-million-dollar day care scam, but her four co-accused have denied related charges in court. Adut Deng Ajak Deng, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of dishonestly causing a loss to the Department of Education and...
Lower school age: childcare sector keeps up pressure over education changes
ABC News - October 18, 2016The childcare sector is again warning of mass job losses and closures as the Upper House prepares to debate lowering Tasmania's school starting age. Early Childhood Australia (ECA) met MLCs this morning for last-minute lobbying. Among wide-ranging changes to the Education Act, is a plan to...
