Child Care News
Kids taken in 'greater rates than Stolen Generations'
SBS News - Biwa Kwan - November 16, 2013National representatives for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families says state governments, businesses and community groups must help to reduce soaring levels of Indigenous children being removed from their families. A group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...
Screening baby
Sydney Morning Herald - Paula Goodyer - November 16, 2013Television can be a sanity-saver for parents, but how much is too much for young children? How much screen time is OK for little chldren? For the under-twos, zero is the word from the Department of Health, which says no electronic media at all is best for this age group. As public health...
Folkestone in development, acquisition push
Financial Review - Nick Lenaghan - November 15, 2013Property fund manager Folkestone and the listed childcare property trust it manages, Australian Education Trust, are seeking to raise a combined $70 million to pursue development and acquisition opportunities. Led by industry veteran Greg Paramor, Folkestone is tapping the market for $25...
Arena REIT shares jump 20pc
Financial Review - Nick Lenaghan - November 14, 2013The $248 million Arena REIT is one of a new wave of property trusts hitting the board this year. The stock has gained about 20 per cent since it launched with a portfolio of childcare centres in June. Created from an existing unlisted fund managed by Arena, it closed at $1.22 on Thursday. The...
Daycare Costs Exceed Rent Payments In Every State In America
Business insider - Jenna Goudreau - November 14, 2013Child-care costs can exceed rent payments for the average American family, according to a new study by Child Care Aware of America, an advocacy group working to increase affordable child care in the U.S. The report, which analysed 2012 survey data, found that daycare fees for two children...
Rights of monsters rated higher than the care of our children
Daily Telegraph - Miranda Devine - November 13, 2013FAILED parents who have had multiple children removed by community services are still free to work at schools and childcare centres without anyone knowing their background. Working With Children background checks, which are required for all people who work with children, only...
Three benchmarks that matter most in childcare
Women's Agenda - Lisa Bryant - November 12, 2013At a time when accessing childcare of any sort can be extremely problematic, being offered a place in a centre for your baby or child is almost akin to winning the lottery. Some would say the odds are even similar. Given the scarcity of childcare places, few parents have the luxury of...
Joe Hockey needs more women for economy's sake
Financial Review - Alan Mitchell - November 11, 2013The Abbott government will have a Productivity Commission review of childcare, which is an important first step towards expanding the supply of that sector. But the government still faces unpopular and expensive decisions if it wants to imitate Canada’s success in increasing the...
Subsidised council centres under threat
Sydney Morning Herald - November 11, 2013Thousands of children could be forced to find alternative care as cash-strapped councils consider whether they can afford to subsidise centres which run at a loss. Only 5 per cent of the state's council-operated childcare centres make a profit, with 45 per cent breaking even and the rest...
Telethon Institute for Child Health Research director Jonathan Carapetis backs call for "no jab, no play" laws
The Sunday Times - November 9, 2013THE head of one of the country's biggest medical research institutes has backed calls for new laws in WA that would ban unvaccinated children from childcare centres. The Sunday Times revealed last week the Australian Medical Association of WA would ask the Barnett Government to consider...
Record numbers of NSW kindergarten students to be held back
NEWS.com.au - November 8, 2013WITH age gaps of up to 17 months in NSW kindergarten classes, a record number of parents are expected to hold their children back next year. The percentage of students who are already six halfway through kindergarten has jumped by more than a third over the past 15 years. Boys...
Affinity Education to manage 57 childcare centres for Arena REIT
Financial Review - Nick Lenaghan - November 7, 2013Social infrastructure investor Arena REIT has struck a conditional agreement to acquire a $24 million portfolio of childcare centres, to be run by Affinity Education Group. The deal on the 14-asset portfolio is dependent on the coming initial public offering and float by Affinity Education...
Childcare fees increase due to new quality standards
Herald Sun - Susie O'Brien - November 6, 2013CHILDCARE fees are increasing by up to $10 a day due to new quality standards, operators say. And further increases of between $1 and $10 a day are expected next year, said Victorian Childcare Alliance president Paul Mondo. A survey by the alliance, which represents private...
Early childhood educators hold the key to children's communication skills
MedicalXpress - November 6, 2013Researchers at UNC's Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute have completed a new examination of peer-reviewed science that reveals how early childhood educators can ignite the growth of language and communication skills in infants and toddlers. Earlier today, Nicole...
Structured play trumps age for future school success
MedicalXpress - November 6, 2013A Kingston University London psychology researcher has backed the Government's stance on maintaining Britain's school starting age saying structured play, not formal learning, is the key to success for the under fives. A senior psychology lecturer from London's Kingston University says...
