Child Care News
Childcare centres have emerged as a new playground for investors
The Courier Mail - Phil Bartsch - January 8, 2016Childcare centres have emerged as a new playground for investors and are tipped to become one of the most sought-after asset classes. The lure of lucrative long-term leases, future upside from underlying land value growth and a rising rate of childcare use backed by government incentives have...
Childcare centres to keep doors open for unvaccinated children
Brisbane Times - Cameron Atfield - January 6, 2016A second childcare provider in the space of a week has announced it would welcome non-immunised children to its ranks. Churches of Christ Care, with its 20 childcare facilities throughout Queensland, advised parents and guardians of its decision this week. The organisation's children, youth and...
Melbourne child care struggle: Waitlists at 92pc of centres put pressure on young families
ABC News - Clare Rawlinson - January 5, 2016An inner-Melbourne child care centre's forced closure is putting stress on young families, with a new report finding 92 per cent of Melbourne centres refer families to waitlists. The Curzon Street Children's Centre in North Melbourne has advised parents of its 75 enrolled children to seek alternative arrangements...
Childcare key to getting women back to work
Herald Sun - Julia Banks - January 5, 2016AS the New Year breaks and January's days click over, millions of parents are agonising over the vexed question of childcare arrangements for their children. The financial burden combined with the fact that childcare arrangements are often a logistical struggle produces enormous stress. If one link...
Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young warns anti-vaxxers not to try playing the system
The Courier Mail - Rhian Deutrom - January 4, 2016It comes after reports of parents attempting to space out their vaccinations for as long as possible, with no intention of completing the regimen, in order to qualify for a place in childcare facilities. Other parents are also seeking legal advice to conscientiously object in doctor's surgeries on the basis of...
Government cracks down on daycare rort involving 11,000 parents
Herald Sun - Lauren Wilson - January 3, 2016TAXPAYERS were losing more than $8 million a week to a 'pink batts'-style child-minding scam involving 11,000 parents, which the Greens tried but failed to keep alive. New data, obtained exclusively by News Corp Australia, reveals taxpayers have been spared $46 million in the last six weeks alone...
Govt rejects $200 per day child care claims
SkyNews.com.au - January 3, 2016The Government is rejecting reports claiming childcare fees in parts of some capital cities will rise above 200 dollars a day. Analysis by The National Centre of Social and Economic Modelling shows charges at high-demand centres will reach just over 210 dollars a day before the Turnbull government's...
Parents must scrutinise child care: govt
9News.com.au - January 2, 2016Australian parents must shop around for childcare providers and carefully scrutinise what they're being offered, Education Minister Simon Birmingham says. New figures suggest daily childcare costs will soar past $200 well before proposed legislation surrounding fee changes takes effect in July 2017...
Child care: Government downplays impact of predicted 14 per cent price rise by July 2017
ABC News - Francis Keany - January 2, 2016The Federal Government has promised its overhaul of the child care system will help keep costs down, amid predictions fees will rise by 14 per cent by July 2017. The Department of Social Services expects the costs of long day care to increase 6.5 per cent this financial year, and 7.3 per cent by July 2017...
Childcare provider C&K will not ban unvaccinated children as new government laws come into effect
ABC News - January 2, 2016Queensland's biggest childcare operator will not make use of a new power to ban children who are not up-to-date with their vaccinations. The new power took effect on Friday in a bid by the Queensland Government to improve vaccination rates. The laws were passed with bipartisan support in October...
Working families hit by soaring childcare fees set to pass $200 a day in Sydney
The Daily Telegraph - Bruce McDougall, Matt Bamford - January 2, 2016CHILDCARE fees are set to soar past $200 a day, stretching the budgets of thousands of working parents to the limit and leaving others to decide if they should even bother going back to work. Charges at high-demand centres will reach $210.53 by the time the federal government''s new means-tested...
For training, childcare and age pensions, a year of change starts now
The Australian - Kylar Loussikian - January 1, 2016The troubled vocational education sector will be the source of almost half-a-billion dollars in savings from today as the federal government begins its crackdown on dodgy operators. The blitz on training colleges that pursue students for courses that result in debts will include a ban on inducements and...
Jab refusers to lose payments
The West Australian - Cathy O'Leary - January 1, 2016The families of more than 3000 WA children stand to lose money from today as new rules kick in that deny vaccination conscientious objectors some welfare payments. Vaccination objection has been removed from the exemption category that allows parents to receive childcare benefits and...
Australian parents to face another childcare fee hike
The Daily Telegraph - Lauren Wilson - December 30, 2015PARENTS with kids in care could see their childcare bills rise again from January 1, when centres are forced to put on extra staff to meet the latest changes to the National Quality Framework. The Australian Childcare Alliance is predicting fees could rise by as much as $5 a day, as childcare centres in...
Indigenous communities fear Federal Government's child care changes will impact 'most vulnerable'
ABC News - Julie Doyle - December 29, 2015Fresh concerns have been raised over the potential consequences of the Federal Government's overhaul of the childcare sector. The Government has proposed legislation that would end a program that provides funding for services specifically tailored for Indigenous children. It wants to move these...
