Child Care News
Vaccine success depends on us all playing a part
The West Australian - March 19, 2015There is a strong argument for compulsory vaccinations for children, with no exemptions, before they can attend child care or school or receive government benefits. Some parents will claim the right to make their own decisions. But when people opt out, for whatever reason, the wider...
Gender equality is not about changing women
Financial Review - Elizabeth Shaw - March 18, 2015The government has a significant role in policy and legislative interventions that provide an enabling environment for this to take place - such as affordable, accessible childcare and a tax system that incentivises women to remain in the workforce. However, the actions of the...
Scott Morrison has admitted that the controversial $74 childcare subsidies per day is too low
NEWS.com.au - Lauren Wilson - March 18, 2015SOCIAL SERVICES Minister Scott Morrison has conceded that a controversial recommendation to cap childcare subsidies at $74 a day could hurt working families and keep mums out of the workforce. Mr Morrison, who is continuing to work on the federal government's new approach to...
Childcare: New ideas for parents and kids
SBS Insight - March 17, 2015Ask any parent and they will say childcare is a big concern for families today - especially for new parents who are weighing up the option of returning to work. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the need for child care services is set to increase as the number of children aged 0-12...
Six ways Australia's education system is failing our kids
The Conversation - Rachel Wilson, Bronwen Dalton & Chris Baumann - March 16, 2015While Australia has recently lifted levels of investment in early childhood education, this investment has not been reflected in high levels of early childhood participation. In Australia, just 18% of 3 year olds participated in early childhood education, compared with 70% on average across the...
Children need chores to teach mastery, responsibility: study
The Australian - Jennifer Breheny Wallace - March 16, 2015Giving children household chores at an early age helps to build a lasting sense of mastery, responsibility and self-reliance, according to research by Marty Rossmann, professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota. In 2002, Dr. Rossmann analysed data from a longitudinal study that...
Qld plans opt-in child vaccination laws
SBS News - March 12, 2015Queensland's government is planning new child vaccination laws, but the opposition wants evidence they will increase vaccination rates. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is planning for opt-in laws allowing childcare centres to ban unvaccinated children from their premises. Ms Palaszczuk...
Status quo is not an option: Scott Morrison
Financial Review - Phillip Coorey - March 12, 2015Social Services Minister Scott Morrison has indicated he will adopta single, tapered childcare rebate in which low and middle- income earners would be rebated a higher percentage of childcare fees, as recommended by the Productivity Commission. In an interview with The Australian Financial...
Childcare: it's all about politics, and business
Business Spectator - Alan Kohler - March 12, 2015Australia's childcare operators are on a knife-edge and lobbying hard as new Social Welfare Minister Scott Morrison prepares to reform the subsidy regime for their industry, in response the Productivity Commission's report last October on early child education and care. And some...
Abbott points to Canadian model of early learning but doesn't see the whole picture
The Conversation - Charles E Pascal - March 12, 2015As a Canadian researcher, it was good to read Prime Minister Tony Abbott's recent reference to my country as justification for investing more in childcare. Unfortunately, he seems to be focusing on only half of what's needed. He said if Australia could shift its low rate of female workforce...
Affinity Education in $75 million equity raising
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Jake Mitchell - March 11, 2015Affinity Education Group will launch a $75 million equity raising to fund an acquisition on Thursday. The raising, an accelerated renounceable entitlement offer (AREO) underwritten by Canaccord Genuity and CBA, will be priced at $1.18 a share. Affinity last traded at $1.34. The proceeds...
Preschools seeking $4000 cash boost per child in pre-election commitments
Mosman Daily - March 9, 2015A CAMPAIGN demanding more money for preschools in NSW believes $4000 a year per child would make it easier for families to access the vital service. Independent preschool providers are calling for increased funding of the sector as part of the A Bigger Slice of the Cake campaign...
Bridging employment gender gap will require more than loosely-framed G20 goals
The Age - Larissa Waters - March 9, 2015The government's aims to increase women's participation in the workforce, but its goals are not supported by current research, policy initiatives or ideological transformation. With the release of the intergenerational report, we've heard a lot about women and work. The government...
Gender quotas key to curbing pay inequality: Queensland Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman
ABC News (7pm News) - Jessica van Vonderen - March 9, 2015Gender quotas are the key to addressing pay inequality in Queensland, the state's Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman says. When asked by the ABC about whether the Labor Government should consider "positive discrimination" legislation to close the gender pay gap, Ms Fentiman...
Territory childcare crisis forcing centres to break the law
NT News - Jill Poulsen - March 8, 2015CHILDCARE centres in the Territory are regularly breaking the law, as the shortage of qualified workers in the NT reaches crisis point. Documents seen by the Sunday Territorian as part of a special investigation into childcare reveal Goodstart centres in the Territory have breached laws...