Child Care News
Childcare workers say government subsidy won't work unless staff shortages addressed
ABC News - Meg Bolton and Jessica Lamb - September 28, 2022A Sunshine Coast childcare provider says parents won't be able to take advantage of a proposed federal government subsidy unless more workers enter the industry. Sunshine Coast daycare centre owner Pam Maclean has two centres in the region and a third one under construction...
Legislation designed to cut ECEC costs formally introduced to parliament
The Sector - Freya Lucas - September 28, 2022Legislation designed to deliver promised cuts to the cost of early childhood education and care (ECEC) was introduced to parliament yesterday. The Federal Treasury estimates the proposed reforms will add the equivalent of up to 37,000 extra full-time workers to the economy...
Government removes key barrier to early learning for First Nations families, boosts subsidised hours
The Sector - Freya Lucas - September 27, 2022he Federal Government will introduce new reforms this week which include a relaxation of CCS activity test requirements, designed to encourage more First Nation families to enroll their children into an early childhood education and care (ECEC) service. Currently 4.3 per...
What’s the one thing parents should know before choosing childcare? 17 women weigh in.
MamaMia - Alyssa Carver - September 22, 2022As a first time mum, when it comes to my child I’m constantly worrying about… well, everything and anything. Has my daughter eaten enough today? Why is she so quiet in her room? When was the last time she pooped? What does green poop even mean? My big worry...
Australia can solve its childcare worker crisis, experts say — but only if we're 'bold'
ABC News - Gabriella Marchant - September 22, 2022For most parents, giving their child a great shot at life is a fairly common ambition. Modern neuroscience tells us the answer isn't hours of remedial high school tutoring, but enriching their social, emotional and educational experiences in early life. In fact, about 90 per cent...
Competition watchdog to review spiralling childcare costs
The Australian - Catie McLeod - September 21, 2022Australia’s competition watchdog will review spiralling prices in the childcare sector which have leapt by 41 per cent over the past eight years. The Albanese government has ordered the investigation to begin in January and report back by the end of 2023...
FDCA National Conference kicks off in Hobart, celebrating all things family day care
The Sector - Freya Lucas - September 14, 2022The Family Day Care Australia (FDCA) 2022 National Conference begins this week in Hobart, bringing together family day care (FDC) professionals and early childhood education and care (ECEC) experts for three days of networking, workshops and plenary sessions...
Over 70 initiatives launched by major ECEC stakeholders to fight workforce challenges
The Sector - Jason Roberts - September 13, 2022Faced with a persistently challenging workforce environment, key stakeholders from across the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector continue to invest heavily in a range of initiatives that focus on improving the current status quo of the sector and advancing...
ACECQA’s National ECEC Workforce Strategy implementation and evaluation plan released
The Sector - Freya Lucas - September 7, 2022The Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) has released the implementation and evaluation framework plan for its National Workforce Strategy: Shaping our Future. The plan provides additional detail as to how the Strategy will be implemented...
'I'm an early childhood educator. This is why yesterday's shutdowns were essential.'
MamaMia - Laura Jackel - September 7, 2022After a tumultuous few years for the early childhood sector, Early Childhood Educators Day (Wednesday September 7) will this year be used to highlight the urgent issues faced by the industry with an Australian wide shutdown of facilities and a series of rallies...
Childcare ‘a mess’: Early learning educators demand better pay, conditions
The Age - Nicole Precel - September 7, 2022Thousands of early learning educators have packed Melbourne’s Federation Square to call for better pay and conditions, as the childcare sector struggles to cope with nationwide staff shortages. More than 1000 childcare centres temporarily shut down across...
Why the childcare changes can’t be fast-tracked
The Sydney Morning Herald - Katina Curtis - September 6, 2022More voices are calling for the government to bring forward its planned increases to childcare subsidies to give parents more help with fees amid the cost-of-living crisis, but logistically, it will be nearly impossible for the changes to start before the mooted date...
Jobs and Skills Summit 2022 – What did it mean for the ECEC sector?
The Sector - Jason Roberts - September 5, 2022The Federal Government wrapped up its first Jobs and Skills Summit on Friday 2 September after a broad coalition of representatives from over 140 unions, employers, peak bodies, civil society and government came together to discuss shared economic challenges and...
Improving childcare to get more women into work ‘biggest lever that we can pull’: Andrews
The Sydney Morning Herald - Rachel Clun - September 1, 2022Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says improving access to childcare to boost women’s participation in the workforce is the most important topic of the federal government’s two-day jobs and skills summit. “[It is] is perhaps the biggest lever that we can pull...
Multiple benefits to bringing CCS changes forward highlighted in new report
The Sector - Freya Lucas - August 30, 2022Bringing forward the proposed changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) would help address critical workforce shortages and save low-income families an additional $295, according to new analysis by Per Capita. From 1 July 2023, proposed changes to CCS income...
