Child Care News
Childcare options not cutting it for mums returning to work: Ashmor
Smart Company - Kate Ashmor - November 20, 2012According to the Pregnancy and Employment Transitions Survey, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics last week, 27% of women who returned to work following the birth of a child relied on grandparents as their main form of childcare. Another 26% of women relied on a partner or...
Is childcare 'making kids chubbier'?
National Health Service (UK) - November 20, 2012"Children who go to nursery are 50% more likely to be overweight than those cared for by their parents", reports the Daily Mail in a rare example of a newspaper headline underplaying the health risk found in research. The news is based on a Canadian study which followed children from...
Push for childcare fix grows
Financial Review - Emma Connors - November 20, 2012Veteran childcare advocate Eva Cox has called on both sides of politics to admit that leaving childcare to market forces simply doesn’t work. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has renewed his call for a Productivity Commission inquiry into childcare but Ms Cox doubts this is the right approach...
Go back to the childcare drawing board
Financial Review - Emma Connors - November 20, 2012Tony Abbott didn't look much like a woman hater. Surrounded by photogenic ankle biters at a Canberra childcare centre yesterday and flanked by his wife Margie, an early childhood educator, he appeared genuine in his concern for families who are finding childcare hard to find and often...
Abbott's childcare productivity inquiry gets nod of approval
The Australian - Lanai Vasek - November 20, 2012PARENTS, business and childcare advocates have welcomed the Coalition's proposed productivity commission inquiry into the sector. Tony Abbott yesterday released the terms of reference for the proposed review, which would include an investigation into day care and in-home care, including...
Abbott lays out terms for child care costs inquiry
ABC News - November 19, 2012Opposition Leader Tony Abbott wants the Productivity Commission to look at ways of making child care more affordable for families, although he has ruled out extra funding. Mr Abbott has previously said he would set up an inquiry into the sector if he won the next election, and this morning he...
Parents to pay more for child care: union
Herald Sun - November 19, 2012PARENTS will pay more under proposals by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to transform child care into a sector that fits a 24/7 economy, the union says. Mr Abbott announced proposed terms of reference for a Productivity Commission review into the sector on Monday, which would include...
ACCI says childcare review worthwhile
Nine News - November 19, 2012The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) says a review of the childcare sector is a worthy cause if it encourages more people into the workforce. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott on Monday announced details of a plan to have the Productivity Commission examine ways to give...
Childcare review 'terrifying' - minister
Sky News - November 19, 2012Tony Abbott's push for a review of the childcare sector highlights a 'terrifying' lack of information about what policies a coalition government would introduce, the federal government says. Childcare Minister Kate Ellis said the opposition leader's announcement about a Productivity Commission...
Abbott challenged on childcare funding
Sydney Morning Herald - November 19, 2012The federal coalition is being challenged to commit more funding to child care after promising Australian parents a review to make childcare services more flexible and affordable. Childcare and workers groups say there can't be reform without substantial increases in benefits, but Opposition...
Coalition spells out childcare inquiry
The Australian - Sid Maher - November 19, 2012THE Coalition's promised Productivity Commission inquiry into childcare will examine whether the system meets the the needs of shift workers and regional communities, and how it accommodates the hours parents wish to work. Tony Abbott will today release the terms of reference for the...
Review tax-deductible childcare: Abbott
Financial Review - John Kerin and Katie Walsh - November 19, 2012Tax-deductible childcare, rebates for private nannies and the effect of federal regulation would be considered by a Productivity Commission review ordered by an Abbott government. Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said six terms of reference for such a review, which he first flagged in March...
Caring for children is no picnic, say workers
Sydney Morning Herald - Melissa Davey - November 18, 2012THOSE charged with looking after Australia''s infants and toddlers earn about $10 less than the average Australian wage. Childcare workers with their Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care earn just $18.58 a hour, which centre operators claim can lead to high staff turnover...
Low wages spark early childhood staff protest
The Age - Jill Stark - November 17, 2012Hundreds of childcare workers have rallied on the steps of the Victorian Parliament as part of a national day of action to protest low wages. Parents also joined the rally, claiming their children's education is being undermined by poor pay that sees a up to a third of early early childhood...
Child care workers march for better pay
Sunday Mail (SA) - Thomas Conlin - November 17, 2012CHILD care workers, parents and families have marched through Adelaide to lobby the Federal Government to fund higher wages for qualified child care workers. About 2500 people, all wearing red, turned out in Adelaide as part of the national Big Steps Day event organised by child care…
