Government Reviews BBF Program - CareforKids.com.au®

Government Reviews BBF Program

The Governments Budget Based Funding (BBF) Program for early childhood education and care services in areas where child care services would not otherwise exist is under review.

Under the program the Government provides direct operational funding to around 330 child care services in urban, regional and remote communities which would not otherwise have an early education and care service.

The Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care, Ms Kate Ellis says the review is to check that the BBF program is doing what it is supposed to be doing and that it is in line with current needs.

The review will assess a range of issues, including how the BBF program can better:

support improvements in service quality
support access to ECEC services where market failure would otherwise exist
respond to changes in community needs and circumstances over time
support increased participation, especially for vulnerable children, and
support better family and community engagement.

Stakeholder consultations
The Government will be conducting consultations with service providers, state and territory governments and families from August-September (see below for the schedule).

A Government discussion paper outlining the program's background, issues and opportunities for change will be used as the basis for these meetings.

Consultation locations and dates

Community	Date	Community	Date
Melbourne	30 July, 1 August	Ceduna	7 August
Ballarat	2 August	Port Augusta	8 August
Bairnsdale	31 July	Cairns	2 August
Brisbane	27, 28 August	Thursday Island	31 July
Sydney	29 August	Horn Island	30 July
Bathurst	30 August	Townsville	1 August
Tamworth	31 August	Alice Springs	10 September
Hobart	21 August	Mutijulu	11 September
King Island	23 August	Perth	17 August
Launceston	22 August	Port Hedland	14 August
Darwin	12, 14 September	Broome	15, 16 August
Katherine	16 August	Canberra	25 July
Nhulunbuy & Yirrakala	13 September	Wagga Wagga	26 July
Adelaide	6, 9 August	Albury-Wodonga	27 July
Mataranka	14 August	Jabiru & Gunbalanya	17 August
Minyeri & Jilnigari	15 August

Written submissions
You can also make a written submission in response to the discussion paper.

These can be submitted via email: bbfreview@deewr.gov.au or by post to:

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,
Indigenous and Market Policy Team, C17MR3,
GPO Box 9880, Canberra City, ACT 2601

The closing date for submissions is 21 September 2012.

Pease note, any changes to the BBF program following this review will not affect funding in the 2012-13 financial year.