Child care scare campaign unfounded
Kate Ellis
posted Thursday, 5 August 2010
The Gillard Labor Government has called for a stop to the shameless scare campaign currently being waged against child care quality by some private child care owners in Queensland.
A small group of private providers appear determined to protect their bottom line, and potentially put at risk the best interests of children and their families.
Factually inaccurate information has been distributed to parents via some child care centres in Queensland about the Gillard Labor Government’s child care quality improvement reforms.
The Gillard Labor Government urges all parents to make sure they are fully informed and to make their own decisions based on the facts.
The Gillard Labor Government firmly believes all children deserve to receive high quality child care, so they are safe and well looked after.
That is why we have driven historic reforms to:
· Improve staff to child ratios, so every child gets more individual care and attention.
· Raise staff qualifications, to ensure staff are better able to lead activities that help children learn and develop.
· Introduce a quality ratings system for all child care services so parents know the quality of care on offer and can make more informed choices.
· Reduce red tape related to services, so providers only have to deal with one regulator and can spend less time on paperwork, and more time with the kids in their care.
These reforms were developed in partnership with State and Territory Governments and through two years of extensive consultation with parents and the sector.
These reforms are being introduced gradually over time, to give the sector time to adjust.
New staff to child ratios are being progressively introduced from 2012. In Queensland no major changes to standard staff to child ratios and qualifications will commence until 2014. This is because Queensland already require one staff member for every four children aged under two and all staff to have a minimum Certificate III qualification.
The Federal Labor Government committed, in the original agreement, to undertake a full review of quality standards in 2014, and to particularly consider any remaining difficulties in Queensland.
The Gillard Labor Government asks private providers who are claiming fee increases in the coming months to come clean and admit that no major ratio or qualification changes will commence until 2014, and that a full review is already scheduled for that year.
Claims in the leaflet regarding costs are completely unfounded and incorrect. They are not supported by independent economic modelling conducted on the benefits of the reforms.
The Gillard Labor Government has significantly boosted child care assistance to families, to improve affordability. We increased the Child Care Rebate to 50 per cent of parents’ out-of-pocket costs and increased the maximum amount from $4354 to $7500.
As a result of these changes a family earning $80,000 with one child in full time care receives an additional $2,239 a year in Child Care Rebate. This has helped families with child care affordability, and in turn helped child care providers.
Federal Labor’s commitment to and investment in child and the early years is clear – and our Budget provides $17.1 billion over the next four years - $10 billion more than was provided in the last four years of the Coalition Government.
More information can be found at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Pages/home.aspx
Tags: care, child, Ellis, rebate