Occasional Care - CareforKids.com.au®

Occasional Care
Update

Last month we ran an article on a campaign running in Victoria to stop the funding cut to over 220 occasional child care centres.

Families across Victoria are hoping to reinstate funding for over 220+ community-based occasional childcare centres that have been subjected to funding cuts and are now in the middle of a blame game between two parties over $1.9 million.

The Take A Break Occasional Child Care program provides occasional care at neighbourhood houses and community centres across Victoria, including rural areas. It helps many families across the State who often have no alternative care for 40-60km and many families who cannot afford full time childcare.

Since that time we can report that there has been some movement in the positive direction, with the news that formal support was declared by the Greens in Parliament on August 18.
Opposition spokesperson for Childcare, Sussan Ley, was very happy with the statement from Adam Bandt MP before the House of Representatives, which called on the Gillard administration to restore this essential funding as soon as possible.

"Winning Greens backing for the Coalition's position reinforces what we have been saying all along; support for childcare in this country starts with the Federal Government", Ms Ley said.

"I again call on Childcare Minister, Kate Ellis, to return the $12m she wiped from this vital sector or risk being severely embarrassed by a vote in Parliament which will force her to do so."

This Greens support comes on the same day parents and children staged a second protest rally in Melbourne representing the 9000 families in Victoria who use this service.

Two thirds of the nation's occasional care programs are in Victoria, with many attending the rally coming from regional and remote communities, where this is often the only centre-based care available.

"Ms Ellis needs to understand not all mums and dads need or can afford full time childcare and cutting occasional care off at the knees like this is both short-sighted and downright cruel", Ms Ley said.

To join the campaign or sign the petition to reinstate funding, click here or go to Facebook

For more information about child care services that offer Occasional Care in your area – go to CareforKids.com.au select Vacancy Super Search where you can enter your postcode then select Occasional Care.