Child Care News
Minister Kate Ellis lends hand to family day care's record cut-out bid
The Advertiser - Liz Walsh - May 8, 2013MANY hands make light work - and they can create world records. Thousands of children attending family day care services across Australia, along with their families, educators and supporters, are creating cut-out handprints to be brought together at the end of May in an attempt to break a...
Aid for disabilities
The Age - May 8, 2013The state government will spend $34.3 million over five years to support children with disabilities and developmental delays before they reach school age. The funding will pay for 1000 early childhood intervention places, including the 500 places already announced in November...
Whooping cough - it's a deadly loophole
The Daily Telegraph - Sue Dunlevy - May 8, 2013CHILDREN who have been fully vaccinated against deadly whooping cough are still catching the disease because new vaccines don't protect for as long and the government doesn't pay for booster shots. Almost 2000 of the 3000 children aged under five who contracted whooping cough in 2010...
Promised boost to family tax benefits axed
NEWS.com.au - Malcolm Farr - May 7, 2013THE Government is abandoning its promised boost to family tax benefits because the mining tax meant to fund it has been a dud. Finance Minister Penny Wong today confirmed the planned $600-a-year top-up pledged in the last Budget would be scrapped in the Budget next week. "We are...
Vaccine refusers to still claim benefits
The Daily Telegraph - Lanai Scarr - May 7, 2013A LOOPHOLE that allows parents who call themselves "vaccine refusers" to receive family benefits will not be closed amid fears the move could be a breach of anti-discrimination laws. But the federal government's refusal to act on the issue, such as stopping the 50 per cent childcare rebate for...
Bankrupt Groves seeks move to Canada
Gold Coast Bulletin - Matthew Killoran - May 7, 2013FALLEN childcare tycoon Eddy Groves wants to leave Australia for good. The former ABC Childcare Centres founder was declared bankrupt in January, with a net debt of $23 million. Currently in Nevada in the US, Mr Groves will be required to return to Australia later this month to appear in...
Childcare workers' funding 'doesn't make sense'
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas and Rosie Lewis - May 7, 2013THE federal government has admitted "many" childcare providers are not interested in enterprise agreements in their centres, but they will continue to have them if they want commonwealth money to boost workers' wages. Childcare workers and advocates have labelled the government's...
Arena plans to float social assets trust
Financial Review - Ben Wilmot - May 7, 2013Morgan Stanley-controlled Arena Investment Management is planning to float a real estate investment trust specialising in social infrastructure, seeded with about $240 million of assets. While the initial focus is childcare centres, the fund will have a broad mandate to venture into newer...
Grant scheme could push up SA child care fees, workers say
AdelaideNow - Liz Walsh - May 6, 2013THE state's childcare sector will be divided, fees will rise and children will be the losers if a Government grant scheme goes ahead, the Australian Childcare Alliance has warned. Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced last month that the Government was providing $300 million in...
Play fair on wages: Childcare providers
Herald Sun - May 6, 2013THE federal government isn't playing fair with its new wage grants for childcare workers, providers say. Prime Minister Julia Gillard in March announced new grants for childcare providers to boost workers' wages so the sector can attract and retain professionals. The $300 million Early Years...
Australian Medical Association angered over claims by president of the Australian Vaccination Network
NEWS.com.au - Sue Dunlevy - May 6, 2013A LEADING anti-vaccination group has sparked alarm by warning parents not to trust their doctor's advice on whether to have their children vaccinated. The new president of the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) Greg Beattie says parents should instead consult books and "health...
No jab, no play campaign reveals vaccination refusals high as babies die
The Daily Telegraph - Jane Hansen - May 6, 2013CHILDCARE centres should have the right to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools under a proposed "no jab, no play" policy. The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph are today launching a campaign to stop the rise in the number of children succumbing...
Is your baby ready to read at three months?
The Age - Marika Dobbin - May 6, 2013A product that says it can teach babies to read from three months old is being sold to parents and used in childcare centres in Australia despite its makers being prosecuted for misleading claims in the United States. Child development experts have warned against the "Your Baby Can Read"...
Unvaccinated children risked life of young cancer survivor
The Sunday Telegraph - Jane Hansen - May 5, 2013MARITA Howell can ban parents bringing peanut butter sandwiches to her childcare centre, but she cannot ban kids who are not vaccinated. Last year, those unvaccinated children risked the life of Ms Howell's son Jonathon, a cancer survivor. The Maroubra mother is the operator of...
No jab, no play campaign launched to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools
The Sunday Telegraph - Jane Hansen - May 5, 2013CHILDCARE centres should have the right to ban unvaccinated kids from childcare centres and preschools under a proposed "no jab, no play" policy. The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Telegraph are today launching a campaign to stop the rise in the number of children succumbing...
