Child Care News
Tasmania's autism-specific early learning centre in Burnie waits on decision over federal funding
The Mercury - Helen Kempton - October 3, 2014TASMANIA'S only autism-specific early learning centre will be put under the microscope as it, and five others around Australia, wait to learn if federal funding will continue after next year. The centre, in Burnie, was established four years ago during an election campaign and after lobbying from…
Glut of childcare vacancies in Parramatta
Daily Telegraph - Adam Bell - October 2, 2014These are the numbers that prove when it comes to finding a childcare place in Sydney, it really is a tale of two cities. In Parramatta, according to exclusive figures obtained from the Department of Education under Freedom of Information laws, hundreds of places go unfilled, while some local...
Taking baby steps
Sydney Morning Herald - Colin Kruger - October 2, 2014If you missed out on the opportunity of investing in Eddy Groves' ABC Learning Centres last time round, there's another chance with the planned IPO of Think Childcare. Well, sort of. Some of the assets in the $30 million float are childcare centres owned by the Groves former plaything, although…
What could childcare changes mean for Australian parents?
ABC 7.30 Report - Adam Harvey - September 30, 2014The Federal Government is set to introduce major changes to Australia's childcare system. A review of a system in crisis has recommended ditching complicated payments and subsidising alternatives to childcare centres, such as nannies. It says 160,000 Australian parents want to work but can't…
States warn against watering down regulations overseeing childcare standards
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 30, 2014TWO of the largest state governments have urged against watering down childcare centre standards as part of a push to address affordability concerns, and warned that they will need stronger regulations to police the proposed use of taxpayer-funded nannies. In a submission to a Productivity...
Good returns from new sector
Financial Review - James Dunn - September 30, 2014One of the earliest examples of social impact investing in Australia was the GoodStart Early Learning Syndicate, which was set up in 2008-09 following the collapse of ABC Learning, the largest single provider of child care in the Australian market. Four not-for-profit organisations - the Benevolent...
Going beyond the call of duty
Financial Review - Joanna Mather - September 30, 2014David O'Byrne, United Voice national secretary. Key issues: corporate tax avoidance, childcare. Industries: hospitality, health and aged care, property services, children's services Membership: 120,000. 'Friends, we come together at a time of unparalleled attack, not just on our people but...
Gran doesn't need a diploma to mind the kids
The Australian - Angela Shanahan - September 27, 2014No one in the current debate about childcare really asks the question, What is best for the children? We know what is best. It is "high quality care", preferably by their parents. Infants should not really be cared for by strangers, but the way the childcare debate is framed in this country it is all about...
Childcare sector leaps on finding preschool kids score better
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 26, 2014THE nation's largest childcare provider has seized on a new British study that found that access to quality preschool influences a child’s high school results, amid a debate about the future of preschool and childcare funding. Oxford University's EPPSE study, which has been tracking the educational…
Childcare workers' training program to replace wage rise fund
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 25, 2014THE ABBOTT government will today reveal that more than 50,000 long day care childcare educators will receive funding for professional development, after money for wage rises promised by Labor was removed. Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley will today announce support for the cost of...
Preschool teachers to strike as pay talks collapse
The Age - Benjamin Preiss - September 24, 2014Preschool teachers will strike for 24 hours next month after negotiations for a new pay deal broke down. The Australian Education Union's Victorian branch expects about 400 preschool teachers and educators to join a rally on October 22. However, the union says more than 1000 teachers and...
Be wary of push for taxpayer handouts and regulatory favours
The Australian - Judith Sloan - September 23, 2014Take another example of conflation being used by various childcare providers and trade union United Voice to make the case for even more government spending on childcare. In fact, the conflation is made on a number of fronts. There is a deliberate mixing up of the case for government funding...
Make the numbers on childcare payments add up
Financial Review - Claire Braund - September 23, 2014Innovation and a reduction in red tape around the provision of flexible childcare options have been called for repeatedly in submissions to the Productivity Commission's inquiry into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning. This requires more complex and far-reaching policy reform than the "tax break...
Male childcare workers under scrutiny from mistrustful parents
NEWS.com.au - September 22, 2014WOULD you trust a man looking after your child at daycare? If the answer's no, you're not alone. Australian parents have been taking to online forums to express their mistrust of male childcare workers. A Reddit post asking parents how they felt about men caring for their kids revealed...
Childcare diet lacking
The West Asutralian - Cathy O'Leary - September 22, 2014Researchers say a big study into childcare meals is needed after a Perth pilot study found toddlers and preschoolers were not getting enough of important food groups such as meat, dairy and vegetables. A study of meals offered to 252 children in eight metropolitan childcare centres found none was giving...
