Child Care News
Labor pushes release of land for childcare
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 17, 2012THE Gillard government has declared it is prepared to audit and release crown land to allow for the establishment of more childcare centres in areas where there are chronic shortages. Childcare Minister Kate Ellis said the identification of spare land was an option that would be explored...
Labor's $70m for school upgrades
The Canberra Times - Lisa Cox - September 17, 2012This follows Labor's announcement yesterday of a $5.5 million plan to create hundreds of new childcare places across the territory. Labor has promised to release land for new centres in Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Woden. If re-elected, the party will spend $4.5 million to expand...
SA to roll-out 15 hour per week programs across remaining pre-schools
AdelaideNow - Katrina Stokes - September 17, 2012THE number of disadvantaged children enrolled in early childhood education programs across South Australia has decreased, a new report shows. The report, released by the South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services today, reveals the state's progress in meeting...
Working parents spend thousands on holiday care for children
Sunday Mail (SA) - Callie Watson - September 15, 2012WORKING parents unable to get time off during the school holidays will spend thousands of dollars on out of school care for their children. Mums and dads who are employed casual and part-time - but decide to take leave in the break - are also expected to be out of pocket from lost wages...
Time for hanky panky? It's great to be a Dane
Sydney Morning Herad - Helena Kaznowska - September 16, 2012A GROUP of Danish nurseries has come up with a novel way to help the country's low birth rate - offering parents an evening of free childcare so they can go home and make more babies. Seven Danish kindergartens are taking part in the scheme, offering two free hours in the hope it...
Skills shortage hits child care
The Mercury - Elizabeth Lord - September 15, 2012THE Tasmanian early years educator sector faces a skills shortage crisis as childcare centres battle to attract and retain staff. With workers paid as little as $18 an hour, the sector is struggling to maintain its workforce as Tasmanian parents endure long waits for childcare positions…
Number of kids in childcare places jumps to record high
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 12, 2012NEW figures reveal the number of Australian kids in childcare last financial year reached a new high of 1.3 million, an increase of 20.6 per cent in five years. The figures, which will be officially released later this year in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations'...
Is 'philanthrocapitalism' the future of Australian charities?
The Conversation - Nicholas Reece - September 10, 2012Colourful Queensland businessman Eddy Groves, built the world's largest publicly listed child-care operator only to see it blow up after it borrowed too much and expanded too quickly. But what happened next was perhaps even more extraordinary – and opened a new chapter in philanthropy and social investment in Australia....
States cool on plan to create more childcare centres
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 10, 2012THE Gillard government's plan to overhaul planning and tax laws to create more childcare places has been dealt a blow by the states, with only NSW welcoming the move. Queensland has its own plans under way and does not trust the federal government to reduce planning red tape, while...
Labor targets needy students
The Canberra Times - Emma Macdonald - September 10, 2012ACT Labor will today announce an $18.5 million package for non-government schools - targeting students most in need and funding non-government preschool education for the first time. ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher will sell the package as Labor's commitment to begin funding all...
ASIC chills out on Eddy Groves' asset freeze
Sydney Morning Herald - Colin Kruger - September 10, 2012FAILED childcare entrepreneur Eddy Groves finally seems to be getting the better of corporate pup ASIC. Earlier this year he beat the travel ban that was in place for three years while the Australian Securities and Investments Commission sifted through the ABC wreckage. ASIC dropped charges...
Childcare fees on rise but parents will pay for quality, says MP
Sydney Morning Herald - Stephanie Peatling - September 9, 2012PARENTS are willing to pay more for childcare and prefer to have government rebates paid directly into their accounts, according to a survey by the Labor MP and economist Andrew Leigh. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, is considering a shake-up of the system including paying childcare…
Kate Ellis eyes councils on childcare
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 07, 2012SUBURBS with childcare shortages face an overhaul of planning, land and tax laws as the government widens its reforms to push state and local governments to address the crisis. Childcare Minister Kate Ellis told The Australian she would write to state, territory and local governments...
Child care centre to face court over 'discrimination'
The West Australian -Kim Macdonald - September 6, 2012A Perth child care centre and its part-owner face fines of up to $45,000 for allegedly discriminating against an employee after she became pregnant. W.K.O Pty Ltd, which operates the Dinki Di Child Care Centre at Innaloo, and the manager and part-owner Orieta O'Leary, will face Federal Court...
Childcare costs key for mums, research shows
The Australian - Patricia Karvelas - September 06, 2012MOTHERS rank affordability in childcare far more importantly than its accessibility and quality as the key policy to help them return to work after having a baby. Researcher Guyonne Kalb says affordable childcare was ranked by 40 per cent of mothers as the most important aid to returning...