Child Care News
Labor says no to welfare cuts compromise
Financial Review - Phillip Coorey - November 10, 2015The compromises were designed to save more than $4 billion which was earmarked to fund a revamped child-care package. Labor's position would reduce that saving to about $1.5 billion, which the government says is not enough to fund child care. At a meeting of the caucus on Tuesday, Labor...
Queensland's Palaszczuk government bans smoking from parks, kindies, football games
The Australian - Sarah Elks - November 10, 2015Queensland will have the toughest smoking laws in the country under a Palaszczuk government plan to ban people from lighting up near children's football games, skate parks, kindergartens, bus stops, and childcare centres. Health Minister Cameron Dick will introduce the legislation into Queensland...
A controversial religious instruction program is being taught at preschool
The Age - Timna Jacks - November 10, 2015Special religious instruction has been scrapped from school classes in Victoria, but a major provider of the controversial program is now entering a new market: childcare. The state's largest SRI provider, Access Ministries, is offering a religious instruction program called Explore Christianity, at...
Childcare industry fears families worse off under Government changes
ABC News - Julie Doyle - November 9, 2015Childcare providers are warning the most disadvantaged children could drop out of early education because of the Federal Government's planned funding changes. Industry and parents groups are stepping up pressure on the Government to make changes to the package that was unveiled in...
G8 Education's Affinity bid ends as Anchorage moves on assets
The Australian - Kylar Loussikian - November 9, 2015G8 Education's bid for its rival Affinity Education has ended, with private equity outfit Anchorage Capital set to formally acquire the assets of the smaller childcare provider. But new details have emerged about the bizarre arrangements of the bitterly fought takeover attempt, raising serious questions...
Clamp on private college loan costs
The Australian - Natasha Bita - November 7, 2015He said the government's VET FEE-HELP loans scheme was "growing at an unsustainable rate" and flagged subsidies being paid only for courses such as trades, nursing, information technology, childcare or aged care. The government has the option of regulating tuition fees or limiting the amount...
We must build more apartments with families in mind
Sydney Morning Herald - Chris Johnson - November 5, 2015The reality is quite different. A survey undertaken for the Urban Taskforce by Research Now found that 17 per cent of rented apartments were occupied by families and 18 per cent of owner-occupied apartments were families. Many developments include a childcare centre to support the...
Harry Triguboff sees rosy future in retirement villages
The Australian - Turi Condon - November 5, 2015On childcare centres, Mr Triguboff said he had sold one of the first centres developed by Meriton, which it had built as part of apartment project, and later realised the buyers were doing well from the deal. "We are now have five, and have 20 under construction (as part of unit developments)...
Education experts call for uniform school starting age, as parents delay sending children to primary school
ABC News - Kellie Lazzaro - November 3, 2015One in six Australian children are held back from starting primary school, prompting education experts to call for a uniform starting age for students across the country. A growing number of parents are opting to delay their child's school entry, believing an older child is more likely to have confidence...
Childcare vaccination rates will force closures, inquiry told
The Courier Mail - Rose Brennan - November 3, 2015SOME family day care centres in southeast Queensland are operating with immunisation rates as low as 50 per cent, the federal inquiry into no jab, no pay laws has been told. Inspired Family Day Care Scheme manager Katchia Avenell yesterday told a Brisbane hearing into the proposed laws...
High-income families to lose on childcare
Sky News - November 2, 2015Families earning a combined income of over $230,000 will reportedly pay more for childcare under a new federal government plan. News Corp reported on Sunday that high income families will face cuts to the childcare rebate from 50 per cent to 30 per cent, while increased assistance will be...
Health experts question Turnbull government's 'no jab no play' policy
Sydney Morning Herald - Stephanie Peatling - November 2, 2015Associate Professor Leask, from the University of Sydney, said the legislation was aimed at people who were registered as conscientious objectors and make up 1.77 per cent of all children but would do little to capture the further 7 per cent of children whose vaccinations were not up to date...
New childcare plan as incomprehensible as before: sector
The Australian - Rosie Lewis - November 2, 2015The early childhood sector has urged the government to release a childcare package that's "easily understood and fair" after speculation that families on higher incomes will face cuts to the 50 per cent rebate. The government refused to comment on any new detail of its childcare policy yesterday...
The administrative storm brewing on the childcare package
Sydney Morning Herald - Judith Ireland - November 2, 2015Parents' childcare entitlements are likely to change multiple times a year under the Coalition's new childcare package, amid warnings from parents and childcare groups it will place a huge burden on busy families and Centrelink. A survey by childcare provider Goodstart has found that over...
Vaccination debate: Queensland parents the biggest conscientious objectors
News.com.au - Rose Brennan - November 2, 2015QUEENSLAND parents have the highest level of conscientious objection to vaccination in the country, with 2 per cent choosing to leave their children exposed to preventable diseases. Department of Health figures show there are 9209 Queensland children under the age of seven, whose parents...
