Child Care news

• Children lagging behind in the classroom in WA's South West amid applications for specialist funding

  05-04-2024 01:23 via abc.net.au
  
  Data from the latest Australian Early Development Census shows kids in the town of Bunbury are behind in developing vital behavioural skills, but a childcare coordinator hopes a grant application to secure a specialist will help overcome that.
  
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• Budget confirms $1.1 billion spend to add super to paid parental leave

  14-05-2024 12:20 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal budget measure — slated to begin in July next year — is a $1.1 billion promise over four years to help improve the retirement outcomes for working mothers.  
  
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• Victoria's free pre-school program delayed

  08-05-2024 08:17 via abc.net.au
  
  Teacher shortages and the government pushing back the construction of child care centres is being blamed for the delay.
  
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• Victoria's free kinder is 'catching' kids, but a teacher shortage has delayed its growth

  07-05-2024 23:40 via abc.net.au
  
  Experts say Victoria's free kindy program is "groundbreaking", but it's not working for all centres and a planned expansion has been delayed.
  
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• Free kinder is 'catching' kids, but a teacher shortage has delayed its growth

  07-05-2024 23:40 via abc.net.au
  
  Experts say Victoria's free kindy program is "groundbreaking", but it's not working for all centres and a planned expansion has been delayed.
  
  Read more

• The Victorian government pitched free kinder as a no-brainer for families. The reality is more complex

  07-05-2024 23:40 via abc.net.au
  
  Experts say Victoria's Free Kinder program is "groundbreaking", but it's not working for all centres and a planned expansion has been delayed.
  
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• For 18 months, Nat couldn't find a childcare centre that would take her triplets

  07-05-2024 03:59 via abc.net.au
  
  Nat Dunworth was forced to send her triplets to two different childcare centres each week for 18 months.
  
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• High staff turnover and vacancies adding to NSW child protection crisis

  06-05-2024 23:32 via abc.net.au
  
  Staff shortages mean caseworkers are only able to visit a fraction of children reported to be at risk.
  
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• High staff turnover and vacancy rates adding to crisis in NSW child protection

  06-05-2024 23:32 via abc.net.au
  
  Staff shortages mean caseworkers are only able to visit a fraction of children reported to be at risk.
  
  Read more

• Queensland's Free Kindy program dubbed 'ill thought-out' after widespread confusion and disappointment

  04-05-2024 23:10 via abc.net.au
  
  While a colourful television campaign promised families the Queensland government was "making kindy free" this year, the rollout of the program has resulted in widespread confusion and disappointed parents.
  
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• 'Quit my job or move to Melbourne': Families face confronting choices as childcare hub shuts

  26-04-2024 04:29 via abc.net.au
  
  Erin Paech's "gut just dropped" when she was told her north-west Victorian town of Hopetoun's only childcare centre would be closing after being unable to fill two vacant qualified educator roles.
  
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• Broken Hill medical practice creates staff creche to attract and retain workers amid child care shortage

  04-04-2024 22:14 via abc.net.au
  
  Heather Pearce always had trouble attracting qualified professionals to her Broken Hill medical practice for long-term roles— until she made sure their kids had child care.
  
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• Outback businesswoman opens childcare centre for her staff's kids, with ripples felt throughout the community

  04-04-2024 22:14 via abc.net.au
  
  Heather Pearce always had trouble attracting qualified professionals to her Broken Hill medical practice for long-term roles— until she made sure their kids had child care.
  
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• Fleurieu Peninsula parents unsure when they can return to work amid two-year wait for childcare

  02-04-2024 21:37 via abc.net.au
  
  In this coastal region south of Adelaide, teachers are among parents who remain unsure when they can return to the workforce as the waiting time for a childcare place balloons to two years.
  
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• Teachers unsure when they can return to work amid two-year wait for childcare

  02-04-2024 21:37 via abc.net.au
  
  In this coastal region south of Adelaide, teachers are among parents who remain unsure when they can return to the workforce as the waiting time for a childcare place balloons to two years.
  
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• Fleurieu Peninsula teachers unsure when they can return to work amid two-year wait for childcare

  02-04-2024 21:37 via abc.net.au
  
  In this coastal region south of Adelaide, teachers are among parents who remain unsure when they can return to the workforce as the waiting time for a childcare place balloons to two years.
  
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• Why educated, affluent Australians are unable to navigate the welfare system

  31-03-2024 20:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Government Services Minister Bill Shorten says 3,000 new Service Australia workers will help sort the backlog of claims and relieve long call wait-times, as benefit recipients say the system is too complex and slow. 
  
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• This English teacher has no idea how anyone with less help is navigating Centrelink

  31-03-2024 20:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Government Services Minister Bill Shorten says 3,000 new Service Australia workers will help sort the backlog of claims and relieve long call wait-times, as benefit recipients say the system is too complex and slow. 
  
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• Parents of twins, triplets, quadruplets call for support from government and more paid parental leave

  21-03-2024 07:16 via abc.net.au
  
  Parents of triplets and quadruplets say they're struggling to make ends meet, calling on the federal government to expand support for families of multiples.
  
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• Abrupt cancellation of Devonport's only autism specific childcare program leaves children and their families in the lurch

  17-03-2024 19:14 via abc.net.au
  
  Ricardo's mum says the specialised autism program he was enrolled in was "some of the only interaction he got with other children". Now, with that program closed down, she and other parents are at a loss as to what to do.
  
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• Aoife says being a mother should feel like a 'gift', but it feels like a 'shackle and burden'

  16-03-2024 19:56 via abc.net.au
  
  The lowest fertility rates in the world are seen in East Asian populations such as South Korea and Japan. But rates are even declining in countries like China and India. Why are women in these countries choosing to be child free?
  
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• Why are women in countries with the lowest fertility rates not having kids?

  16-03-2024 19:56 via abc.net.au
  
  The lowest fertility rates in the world are seen in East Asian populations such as South Korea and Japan. But rates are even declining in countries like China and India. Why are women in these countries choosing to be child free?
  
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• Growing calls for a reform in outdated child support system

  15-03-2024 03:14 via abc.net.au
  
  The federal government is undertaking the first review of the child support payments since the Howard government amid growing concerns the system is outdated. 
  
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• Parents asked to cut childcare hours as regional provider struggles to find and house staff

  14-03-2024 01:30 via abc.net.au
  
  An Esperance childcare provider is asking parents to consider reducing the hours their children spend in care as it grapples with staff shortages and a long waiting list.  
  
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• Parents asked to cut childcare hours as regional provider struggles to find, house staff

  14-03-2024 01:30 via abc.net.au
  
  An Esperance childcare provider is asking parents to consider reducing the hours their children spend in care as it grapples with staff shortages and a long waiting list.  
  
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• Can Australia learn from Finland when it comes to childcare?

  13-03-2024 10:08 via abc.net.au
  
  The Nordic countries are well-known for their high standard of living, and Australia could look to Finland as an example of a country that’s achieved universal childcare.
  
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• While Aussies beg for babysitters on Facebook, childcare in Finland is guaranteed by the government

  13-03-2024 08:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia's childcare system has been described as a "ridiculous struggle" for many working families, but could a country a world away teach us how to do it right?
  
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• While Aussies beg for babysitters on Facebook, child care in Finland is guaranteed by the government

  13-03-2024 08:39 via abc.net.au
  
  Australia's childcare system has been described as a "ridiculous struggle" for many working families, but could a country a world away teach us how to do it right?
  
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• 'Hoodwinked and fooled': How Australian parents are being misled on toddler milk

  12-03-2024 06:03 via abc.net.au
  
  It's the ultra-processed milk powder intentionally marketed as a follow-on to breastfeeding or infant formulae. But the evidence suggests toddler or transition milks are unnecessary at best and harmful at worst.
  
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• Lily died after hitting her head at child care. Her family want answers.

  11-03-2024 10:09 via abc.net.au
  
  Ten hours after hitting her head at child care, Lilly was dead, leaving her family wanting answers
  
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