Child Care News
More children to be in unchecked care
Sydney Morning Herald - Melissa Jenkins - December 1, 2011More children will be left in unregulated backyard care as the federal government's reforms threaten to push up parents' childcare bills, the industry warns. Australian Childcare Alliance president Gwynn Bridge says some parents already use unchecked care...
Childcare reforms to push up fees by 15pc, says Productivity Commission
The Australian - Sue Dunlevy - December 01, 2011CHILDCARE fees will need to rise 15 per cent, or $42.75 a week, and some parents will quit the workforce because of the government's reforms to the sector, the Productivity Commission has found. In a report to be released today, the commission says...
Weed out bad childcare from the good
Herald Sun - Susie O'Brien - November 29, 2011CHILDCARE is bad for kids - bad childcare, that is. An ANU study of more than 5000 Australian kids has found that toddlers in day care for more than 20 hours a week have poorer behaviour than those kept at home. They're more likely to have problems...
Care crisis looming as shortages predicted
The Canberra Times - Julieanne Strachan - 27 Nov, 2011CANBERRA mums who want to return to the workforce next year could be forced to stay home to look after their babies, with child-care operators warning the shortage of places for children under two in the ACT would go from bad to worse on January 1...
Child care centre name and shame plan
Courier Mail - Renee Viellaris - November 27, 2011In her strongest warning to parents to date, Federal Child Care Minister Kate Ellis said some Queensland centres were not good enough and were failing children. From the end of next year, centres that fail any of seven indicators will be publicly named...
Tough rules for child sex offenders in WA
Ninemsn - November 27, 2011Police Minister Rob Johnson says that under the proposed changes, courts will be able to compel a reportable child sex offender to stop living near their victims, schools or childcare centres. The laws would also enable police to better monitor such offenders' compliance...
The childcare name and shame list
Sydney Morning Herald - Stephanie Peatling - November 27, 2011‎CHILDCARE centres that raise fees from January 1 and blame the federal government's overhaul of the industry will be named and shamed. The Minister for Childcare, Kate Ellis, told The Sun-Herald some privately run centres were out to profit from the...
Teen mothers caught between love and learning
The Age - Nicole Brady - November 27, 2011As well as having nearly all their childcare fees paid for, they will have to attend parenting classes and be linked in to play and mothers' groups and other support services. It's a carrot-and-stick approach that federal Families Minister Jenny...
Vacation care dilemma for cash-strapped parents as school holidays loom
Courier Mail - Felicity Caldwell and Jason Tin - November 27, 2011CASH-strapped parents struggling to meet the cost of vacation care will be forced to leave their kids home alone during the upcoming school holidays. Police and child safety experts are warning that parents, unable to afford vacation care programs...
ALP confirms support for occasional childcare
Sussan Ley - Media Release - November 25, 2011The Federal Coalition today expressed delight with an about-face from the Federal Government to restore funding for Australia’s occasional childcare services. Yesterday Labor joined with the Coalition, Greens and Independents to support a motion calling for...
Inject children or lose money
Herald Sun - Marianne Betts - November 25, 2011Families are already required to have their child fully vaccinated to receive the childcare rebate and childcare benefit. The new arrangements will replace the maternity immunisation allowance which provides $129 for families who meet immunisation...
All day 40km/h zones at childcare centres to cut risk
The Daily Telegraph - Rhys Haynes - November 25, 2011ALL childcare centres and preschools should have 40km/h zones that could stretch from 7am to 6pm to reduce the number of road deaths and injuries, a key policy advisory body to the government said. The NSW Commission for Children and Young People...
Childcare: Mothers 'fear playgroup cliques'
BBC News (UK) - Sean Coughlan - November 24, 2011A single "dirty look" could be enough to deter them from any return to use childcare services. Dr Jones says that one mother did not even make it past the front door, but had turned round and gone home when she was put off by the perceived attitude of...
Children 'graduate' from pre-school
Herald Sun - Evonne Barry - November 23, 2011Kindergarten students from Cradles to Crayons in Kealba are graduating to primary school. Picture: Craig Borrow Source: Herald Sun KINDER kids are ditching art smocks for formal gowns and mortarboards as they "graduate" from pre-school...
Childcare reforms
The Australian - Angela MacRae (Productivity Commission) - November 22, 2011I REFER to the article by Natasha Bita ("Childcare reforms to cost struggling parents", 19-20/11) which refers to the Productivity Commission's study on the early childhood workforce. I wish to clarify that the discussion I had with Bita related to the draft report...
