Child Care News
Budget gains at risk from rates - Minding the childminders
Sydney Morning Herald - May 5, 2011With huge unmet demand, families ready to spend an average $350 a week, and towards $2 billion in annual government subsidies pouring in as well, no wonder that childcare is increasingly a private-sector operation driven by profit...
Back to school for teenage mums
The Daily Telegraph - Simon Benson - May 05, 2011The mothers would be given access to existing childcare assistance but, if they failed to attend classses or meet the requirements without a reasonable excuse, their payments would be suspended. A trial program will be...
Whooping cough outbreak sparks vaccination calls
ABC Online - Kristy O'Brien - May 4, 2011There have been 32 cases recorded in the past three months in the territory. Recently, two young territory children with whooping cough went to childcare centres while they were still infectious. Whooping cough is a highly...
Childcare centres avoid penalties
Sydney Morning Herald - Natasha Wallace - May 4, 2011In NSW 102 centres have been declared "not accredited" after failing to meet standards, which cover policies and procedures on matters such as staff relationships with children, child experiences and learning, and safety and nutrition...
Demand and standards place parents in a bind
Sydney Morning Herald - Nick Ralston, Natasha Wallace - May 4, 2011"It was because we had nowhere and the childcare centres were all full." A spokeswoman for the centre's director, Charmaine Alexoulis, said the centre was not accredited due to "small things" such as inadequate documentation and using...
Warnings over safety sent to 31 childcare centres
Sydney Morning Herald - Natasha Wallace - May 3, 2011FAILING to properly supervise children and poor record-keeping of staff attendance are the most common reasons why authorities issue written warnings to childcare centres. Other common breaches include exceeding capacity, caring for children not on the...
Day care toll: children in danger
Sydney Morning Herald - Natasha Wallace - May 2, 2011MORE than 1000 children needed medical treatment and dozens were taken to hospital after serious accidents at childcare centres in NSW last year. A Herald investigation has obtained 4000 pages of previously unpublished reports which show that many of...
DOCS complaints reveal serious neglect
Sydney Morning Herald - Natasha Wallace - May 2, 2011INAPPROPRIATE sexual behaviour between children, tying babies to chairs during meals, poor supervision and harsh discipline are among some of the serious complaints made by parents to Sydney childcare centres last year. The complaints were obtained by...
Desserts leave a sour taste
The Daily Telegraph - May 1, 2011CHILDCARE centres are being warned against feeding children too many sweets as doctors fear it is creating poor habits for life. Doctors and nutritionists want "nutritionally void" desserts such as jelly and ice cream banned from menus...
The pain of reducing 'middle-class welfare'
Sydney Morning Herald - May 1, 2011The 50 per cent childcare rebate is the only family benefit that is not means tested - which may change in the coming budget. Employers have warned that tightening the rules may lead to women leaving the workforce, adding to the skills shortage...
ACT budget to fund seven new child-care centres
The Canberra Times - Breanna Tucker - April 30, 2011An extra 800 children will soon have access to high-quality child care after the ACT Government announced a multi-million-dollar boost to the sector. Minister for Children and Young People Joy Burch yesterday revealed a $60 million package promising seven new child-care...
Australia doing well but childcare could be improved: OECD
ABC Online - Alison Caldwell - April 29, 2011But the report found Australia performs badly when it comes to spending on childcare services and finding jobs for single parents, resulting in above-average poverty rates. Lead author of the report, the OECD's senior economist in social policy...
New day care places for ACT
ABC Online - Anna Morozow - April 29, 2011The ACT Government will provide $60 million in next week's territory budget to boost childcare services. The money will fund an early childhood school at Franklin in Canberra's north and a childcare centre at Holder in Canberra's west...
Too many single parents are 'benefit dependent'
The Age - David McLennan - April 28, 2011AUSTRALIA should make single parents meet tougher work, training and job search requirements before giving them welfare payments, according to the OECD. It also recommended the extension of childcare support programs for working parents...
Peril in the daycare playground
Herald Sun - Elissa Doherty - April 24, 2011ROUGH and tumble play at childcare centres and kindergartens is sending more than 60 children a month to hospital. Children suffering everything from serious dislocations to minor scrapes, and swallowing marbles, are ending up in the...
