Child Care News

Father's Day report calls for equal parental leave as Australia lags behind
ABC News - Conor Duffy - September 5, 2021

Australia has one of the least generous and most outdated parental leave systems in the developed world, but modest changes to allow both parents to access equal amounts of care could be a game changer, according to a new report. The federal government currently funds 18 weeks...

‘Most satisfying thing I’ve ever done’: Dads back call to revolutionise parental leave
The Age - Wendy Tuohy - September 5, 2021

Doting father Hussain Ali confesses there has been some “unlearning” to do to equip him with the skills needed as stay-at-home primary carer for 11-month-old Sebastian, his first child with wife Roesia Miranda, a doctor working in aged care. Things that help in Mr Ali’s work as a joint-venture...

'We're lucky to have help': It takes a village to remote-school a child
Sydney Morning Herald - Caitlin Fitzsimmons - September 5, 2021

Sydney families are finding it takes a village to remote-school a child, with an increasing number of stressed-out parents roping in grandparents or paying for tutors to cope with the pressure. Greater Sydney is now entering its ninth week of learning from home for most students...

Schools, childcare centres source of most Victorian COVID-19 transmission
The Age - Paul Sakkal and Ashleigh McMillan - September 3, 2021

More of Victoria’s COVID-19 cases recorded in the past month have stemmed from schools and childcare centres than any other type of setting, new Health Department data shows. Almost 40 per cent of the approximately 1202 cases recorded from the start of August...

Gastro outbreaks in 2021 across Victorian childcare centres three times higher than average in past five years
The West Australian - Anthony Piovesan - September 3, 2021

Viral gastroenteritis cases in Victorian childcare centres have surged in the past eight months, with the number of outbreaks climbing to more than three times higher than the average for the same period in past years. Data obtained by NCA NewsWire shows there have been...

University of NSW $10m richer after sale of childcare centre to property developer
News.com.au - Stephen Nicholls - September 3, 2021

The University of NSW has received a boost to revenue with the sale of a childcare centre to a property developer for $10.11m at auction, more than $3m above reserve. The 1639 sqm block on three titles at 52-56 Barker Street, Kingsford, attracted 18 registered bidders...

Best childcare centres in the Riverina | Full list
The Daily Telegraph - Kate Kiernan - September 3, 2021

Childcare centres across the region are becoming more valuable as the population of the Riverina grows, but it can be overwhelming to find the best centre for your children. Childcare centres are assessed by the NSW Department of Education on seven quality areas...

Concerned about your child’s mental health? Here are some practical tips from the experts
Brisbane Times - Sumeyya Llanbey - September 2, 2021

The mental health burden of the state’s sixth lockdown has taken a toll on many Victorians. Victoria’s Chief Psychiatrist, Neil Coventry, urged adults on Thursday to reach out to young people amid concerns of an increase in mental health issues. The Age asked ...

Proposal aims to aid Indigenous employment
The West Australian - Fraser Barton - September 2, 2021

Indigenous people with a criminal history denied the right to work with children in Queensland would have their cases reconsidered by their peers, under a bill before state parliament. The Blue Card system allows Queenslanders to work with young ...

From vaccination to ventilation: 5 ways to keep kids safe from COVID when schools reopen
The Conversation - September 2, 2021

Last week the New South Wales government announced schools are scheduled to re-open in October. While face-to-face learning undoubtedly has benefits for both children and parents, the announcement left unanswered a series of important questions ...

Panda Early Learning childcare centre proposed for Grand Ocean Entrance, Burns Beach refused by Joondalup Council
Perth Now - Tyler Brown - September 2, 2021

A childcare centre proposed for Burns Beach, which would become the first in the suburb, has been refused. The two-storey Panda Early Learning Centre was earmarked for a vacant site at 44 and 46 Grand Ocean Entrance to cater for up to 66 children between 7am and 6.30pm ...

Voices from Australia’s Covid frontline: the childcare worker and the pharmacist
The Guardian - Rafqa Touma - September 1, 2021

Kaitlyn and George have the protection of other people as a priority every day, but when it comes to their own lives, it’s the simple things they miss. It is essential that we look after young kids, so their parents can proceed with their own essential work. A lot of the parents we have ...

How to tell if lockdowns are affecting your children and what you can do about it
ABC News - Alison Branley and Conor Duffy - September 1, 2021

With three boys aged under five and her fourth child on the way, Lorelei Basman Reimi has been a mum long enough to know when something's up with her kids. More than two months into Sydney's lockdown, she's never seen them so unsettled. "We're getting more ...

Three revoked daily: Is your working with children accreditation up to date?
Goulburn Post - Hannah Neale - September 1, 2021

While 79 per cent of parents and carers trust organisations to actively maintain their Working With Children Checks, new research has revealed only five per cent of organisations are keeping up to date. The data, from tech-based national verification platform Oho, found that on average ...

Child safety data shows that Queensland has growing numbers of children in care
The Sector - Freyas Lucas - September 1, 2021

Demand for family support and child protection services throughout Queensland continues to grow, the latest quarterly child safety data has shown. Despite the increasing pressure the system is under, Minister for Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard ...