Child Care News
Early intervention key in treating children with mental health issues, experts say
ABC News - Norman Hermant - October 11, 2014The Hunter Institute of Mental Health has released a federally funded guide for staff to look for early signs of mental illness in the 1 million Australian children in childcare. The institute's director, Jaelea Skehan, said early detection is key when it comes to mental illness. "The earliest possible time...
Childcare sector baulks at bid to lower qualification standards
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - October 11, 2014A SURVEY of childcare centres on the Productivity Commission's recommendations for a shake-up of the industry has found that even if teacher standards were watered down for children under three, more than half of the centres would still seek better qualified staff. The survey, by the Early...
Sick of hearing about the problems? Then consider these eight solutions for women at work
Women's Agenda - Georgina Dent - October 10, 2014The cost and availability of childcare remains a significant barrier to work for many Australian women. (In the spirit of checking our assumptions technically it should be a barrier to men as well but currently it is mothers who exit work or work less, more than fathers, due to childcare.) Our...
Early Learning Association Australia ramps up campaign for long-term commitment to 15 hours of kindergarten
Herald Sun - Rebecca David - October 8, 2014FAMILIES face the prospect of higher fees and lower quality programs if there is no long-term plan to fund 15 hours of kindergarten, Early Learning Association Australia says. Launching their State Election campaign, the association's chief executive officer Shane Lucas said they want the...
Why preschoolers make less reliable witnesses
ABC Science - Anna Salleh - October 8, 2014Preschool aged children store less information in their brain and are more likely to report false memories than older children, suggests a new study. The research, published in the British Journal of Developmental Psychology, reiterates the need for caution when using children under the age...
Productivity commission encourages mediocrity: Anagnostou
Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - October 7, 2014Nick Anagnostou has concerns about the Productivity Commission's proposal to introduce a "deemed cost of care" model for childcare that would replace the current benefit system. Under the commission's preferred model, the government would subsidise 90 per cent of childcare costs for a...
Sydney childcare vacancies: City parents face huge waiting lists while west struggles to fill places
Daily Telegraph - Adam Bell - October 7, 2014When it comes to finding childcare in Sydney, it really is a tale of two cities. Exclusive figures obtained from the Department of Education under Freedom of Information laws reveal that while some local government areas are still suffering from a chronic shortage of childcare, others have hundreds...
How Folkestone's Nick Anagnostou turned around the 'childcare GFC'
Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - October 7, 2014Nick Anagnostou has impeccably bad timing. In August 2008, Mr Anagnostou, a real estate valuer and former JLL director, was appointed to run -Austock's property funds management business. This included the Australian Education Trust, which at the time owned 437 childcare centres, nearly all...
We can learn a lot about public policy from the Nordic nations
The Conversation - Andrew Scott - October 7, 2014At the end of this month Australia's Productivity Commission will issue the final report of its inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care. The inquiry was limited from the outset by the requirement that changes must be within existing funding parameters. Although asked to review alternative...
Call for return to life in slow lane
7News - David Eccleston - October 6, 2014here is a growing movement for a return to traditional toys so that children can learn for themselves and develop their imaginations. When one toy manufacturer released a bassinet complete with a tablet holder, it triggered a revolt from parents demanding the product be pulled. Now early childhood...
Families SA to notify 77 workers about concerns raised in audits of their employment histories
The Advertiser - Lauren Novak - October 6, 2014FAMILIES SA will notify 77 carers that they are the subject of concerns raised in an audit of employment histories. The child protection agency will also begin further investigations this week into staff suspended from working alone with children as result of the audit. On Friday, the Government...
Sitting can be a trap for children: They're inactive up to 50 per cent of the time in supervised care
Daily Telegraph - Lisa Mayoh - October 6, 2014KIDS can spend half their day at NSW childcare centres sitting - and that doesn't even include nap time. With sitting for too long considered as dangerous as smoking, research by Wollongong University has found children are inactive 50 per cent of the time when in supervised care. Researchers…
FOCUS | Sussan Ley safe as houses and destined to stay
Border Mail - Natalie Kotsios - October 4, 2014THE children look up eagerly as the door to Mulwala Preschool slides open, lunches temporarily forgotten - visitors are far more exciting than Vegemite sandwiches. Some smile shyly as Sussan Ley walks in and offers a warm hello before launching into conversation with the preschool's director...
Gender stereotypes: meet the men finding success in traditionally female workplaces
Herald Sun - Sarah Marinos - October 3, 2014IN the 21st century there are still some professions that are predominantly seen as either a "job for the boys" or as "women's work". So while some women do become electricians and plumbers, professionally umpire footy games and lead trade unions, they still find themselves outnumbered…
Concerns raised over 100 childcare workers
Seven News - October 3, 2014At least 25 Families SA workers will be stood down after an audit raising questions about their suitability for working with children. Education and Child Development Minister Jennifer Rankine on Friday said 25 residential carers would be immediately suspended from working one-on-one with…
