Child Care News

Childcare ear health screening reveals widespread otitis media
The West Australian - Rhianna Mitchell - July 8, 2021

Between January and June this year, 23 per cent were suspected of having otitis media. An earlier pilot study put the infection rate at about 70 per cent of children tested...

ECEC services big winners in ACT 2021 Nature Play Grants Program
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 8, 2021

Tuggeranong Town Occasional Childcare Centre Inc and Cubby House on Campus – Early Learning Centre Inc are among the five successful projects to receive a share of the $35,650 made available as part of the 2021 Nature Play Grants program. Other successful recipients include a ...

Bermagui Preschool to use funding for therapy and counselling room to support childhood mental health
Bega District News - Ellouise Bailey - July 8, 2021

Bermagui Preschool is a not-for-profit community-based centre that has just received $476,252 from the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package to create a therapy and counselling room. The room will provide one-on-one trauma and resilience counselling for children ...

Workers became more loyal during the pandemic but retrenchments spiked
WA Today - Shane Wright and Jennifer Duke - July 8, 2021

The figures have prompted Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil to urge the federal government to do more for childcare, saying parents should not be locked out of the job market because they cannot afford or access childcare. “This should not...

CareersXpo cancellation leaves early childhood educators scrambling to find new recruits
The Riot Act - Katrina Condie - July 8, 2021

The cancellation of this year’s CareersXpo due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak has thrown a spanner in the works for employers seeking to recruit new staff in Canberra. With a critical shortage of early childhood educators, Communities@Work was aiming to pick up some...

Tiana Kaleel: childcare worker charged with drug supply
Daily Telegraph - Eliza Barr - July 8, 2021

A cleanskin childcare worker charged with supplying a commercial quantity of ice could face jail time after police allegedly saw her emerge from a suspected drug house, a court has heard. Tiana Kaleel, 26, allegedly told officers she was dropping a laser to her cousin and doing....

Forestview Kindergarten opens bush tucker garden
Bundaberg Now - Georgia Neville - July 7, 2021

Forestview Community Kindergarten has opened a bush tucker garden, providing an open space for children to learn about culture and the environment. Forestview has worked in partnership with local corporation Girdarjil to ensure its bush tucker garden had all the aspects and local...

Check In TAS app changes come into effect July 7 to improve COVID-19 contact-tracing
The Examiner - Dana Anderson - July 6, 2021

It comes a week after Premier Peter Gutwein announced checking in would be mandatory at supermarkets, shopping centres and big box retailers such as Bunnings. Other premises included in the new mandatory check in rules were libraries, child care centres, schools...

Little Peoples Place childcare centres likely to be sold to global group Busy Bees
The West Australian - Danielle Le Messurier - July 7, 2021

WestBusiness understands a deal is close to being finalised which could see 11 metropolitan Little Peoples childcare centres handed over to the...

Childcare remains unaffordable for far too many Australian families
The Transcontinental - Peter Hurley, Victoria University - July 7, 2021

Opinion: Every Australian child should have access to affordable, high-quality and accessible early learning and care regardless of their postcode, however the reality falls far short. About 55% of families from regional and rural Australia report difficulty with the cost of childcare ...

Waverley Council supports locals by hitting pause on fee increase in ECEC services
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 7, 2021

Following an extraordinary meeting held last week, Sydney’s Waverley Council has agreed to an additional round of business and community support measures to help local businesses during the current lockdown period. The measures agreed include direct financial support through ...

Heritage listed Ginninderra Village to take on new life with ECEC at the heart
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 7, 2021

The owner of Ginninderra Village in the ACT suburb of Nicholls plans to open a 90-place childcare centre in the heritage precinct, saying there is unmet and growing demand in the area, local news source RiotACT has reported. Ginninderra Village Pty Limited has applied for a ...

EU investors back $100m ‘COVID-19 opportunity fund’
Australian Financial Review - Larry Schlesinger - July 6, 2021

Jameson Capital secured $25 million from two European cornerstone investors for a $100 million fund that will provide debt and take equity positions in real estate opportunities created COVID-19. Last-mile logistics, childcare, seniors living, self-storage, data centres ...

Finalists announced for 2021 HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 6 2021

Ten early childhood educators and services have been announced as finalists in the 2021 HESTA Early Childhood Education & Care Awards. New South Wales was the stand out state in terms of nominations, with educators and services being recognised for achievements including an ...

New early childhood hub will support families in Merbein to thrive
The Sector - Freya Lucas - July 6, 2021

A new $2.73 million integrated Generations Early Learning Centre located at Chaffey Aged Care was recently opened by Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp. The facility was funded through major grants provided as part of the Children’s Facilities Capital Grants and ...