Newcastle's newest child care centre offers some parents a lift to work and plans to offer takeaway dinners at pickup
The Herald - Penelope Green - May 24, 2019
Newcastle's latest childcare centre on the block is offering some parents a drop-to-work shuttle bus service and has flagged selling pre-packaged dinners for parents collecting their children. East End Early Education and Preschool opened on May 13 on the ground floor of 50 Bolton Street...
Experts' picks: General Motors 'way too cheap' and Myer set to hit $1
Australian Financial Review - May 23, 2019
Martin Hickson at Wilson Asset Management said he had just bought 4 per cent of Think Childcare, adding "we think it's one of the best micro-caps in the market". "The Australian childcare industry is at an inflection point" and is about to enter a period of reducing supply and increasing demand...
Wyndham Council wants crackdown on misleading marketing for new estates
Wyndham Leader - Rebecca David - May 23, 2019
Wyndham MAV delegate Josh Gilligan said the council received dozens of complaints and concerns about new home or land purchases, regarding estates that did not live up to marketing materials provided before the sale. “Some of the most concerning of these changes are the removal of child care facilities...
Short-term assistance available for state-funded kindergartens in Victoria
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 23, 2019
Early childhood teachers (ECTs) working within state-funded Victorian kindergarten programs may be able to access additional short-term support to assist children with a diagnosed disability or developmental delay through a program offered by Uniting, in partnership with the...
Daycare kids vaccinated after measles outbreak
The Australian - Remy Varga - May 23, 2019
Twenty-seven toddlers and babies at a Victorian daycare centre have been immunised after an infant who attends the facility contracted measles. Health authorities confirmed yesterday that six people, including the infant, had contracted the infectious disease after coming in contact with...
'Exuberance' has abated, childcare centre transaction volumes fall
Australian Financial Review - Tim Boyd - May 22, 2019
The volume of childcare centre transactions fell over 2018, as the market matured after three years of "exuberance", according to a new white paper. Peritus Childcare Sales' research showed freehold childcare centre transaction volumes slipped 12 per cent in 2018, down to $355.4 million in sales...
Childcare centre fined after child was left behind at excursion
North Coast Times - Grelg Johnston - May 22, 2019
A Perth childcare centre has been fined $9000 after a five-and-a-half year old child was left behind at an excursion. Quinns Baptist Community Care at 8 Salerno Drive in Mindarie was also ordered to pay $1000 in legal costs. The matter was referred to the State Administrative Tribunal in March...
HoneyBears and neighbouring Sylvania property sell for $5.8M
The Leader - May 22, 2019
The HoneyBears early learning centre in Sylvania has sold for $3.2 million amid growing interest in Sutherland Shire investment opportunities. The substantial childcare, and its neighbouring property, have been secured by an astute investor keen to invest in the future growth of the shire...
Arena REIT expands asset base
Sydney Morning Herald - Caroly Cummins - May 22, 2019
Arena REIT has expanded its asset base with the purchase of additional social infrastructure properties with a total investment of $62 million. The acquisitions will be funded through a $50 million institutional placement and comprise three specialist disability accommodation properties in...
Families face higher childcare and preschool costs after election
The Daily Telegraph - Sue Dunlevy - May 21, 2019
Families with young children face uncertain funding for preschool while those with older kids are already receiving a boost in school funding under the Morrison government. An analysis of policy in the wake of the shock election result reveals a mixed bag of offerings for families...
Canberra's inner north might need a new school, four extra child care centres to cope with growth
Canberra Times - Dan Jervis-Bardy - May 21, 2019
Canberra's inner north could need another public primary school, four new child care centres and around 200 aged-care places in the next decade to accommodate the district's growing population, new analysis has shown. Two new GP clinics and more recreation spaces for young people might also...
Post election, new ECEC policy initiatives likely on hold as sector awaits minister confirmation
The Sector - Jason Roberts - May 21, 2019
With the Australian General Election now over and Scott Morrison’s Coalition securing another term in government, expectations for any meaningful changes or additions to the current early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector policy mix are low. In the run up to the election, Mr Morrison’s Coalition...
ECA calls on new Coalition Government to take action on child poverty and disadvantage
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 21, 2019
Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has congratulated the re-elected Liberal–National Coalition Government on its election success, urging Prime Minister Scott Morrison to harness his majority in the Australian Parliament to take action on reducing child poverty and educational disadvantage...
Arena REIT launches equity raise; Morgan Stanley on board
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson and Anthony Macdonald - May 21, 2019
Childcare landlord Arena REIT is seeking to raise $50 million at $2.67 a share. The offer price reflects a 4.3 per cent discount to the last close and a 2.4 per cent discount to the five-day volume weighted average price, according to terms sent to fund managers on Tuesday. Morgan Stanely is sole lead manager on the ...
ASX rally: Market jumps, big banks surge on Coalition victory in federal election
Herald Sun - John Dagge - May 20, 2019
The Coalition’s unexpected win has implications for a broad range of companies — from childcare to energy players — given Labor had promised to scale back tax incentives for investors, increase pay rates in some sectors and take more ambitious action on climate change...
SA employers will be relieved that there hasn’t been a change of government, Business SA says
The Advertiser - Anthony Penney - May 20, 2019
And we have been spared a government prepared to legislate an exorbitant pay rise for one specific industry – albeit low paid like many others – irrespective of the rational, decision-making powers of the independent Fair Work Commission. That 20 per cent increase for childcare workers would have flowed on...
ACA National keen to work with Coalition Government to put children and families first
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 20, 2019
Australia’s peak body for private long day care services, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA), today extended its congratulations to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition on their Federal election win over the weekend. ACA also commended the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for its commitment ...
The election's uncomfortable truths
Financial Review - Aaron Patrick - May 20, 2019
Prosperous and aspirational, Australians no longer believe unions or governments are necessary to protect their wages. They don't believe industries should be subsidised by governments, except for perhaps defence manufacturers. They do not believe there is a childcare crisis, although they would like more sexual equality....
Tax policy is doing too little to help the squeezed middle
Financial Review - Miranda Stewart - May 20, 2019
Two-earner families still face high marginal and average effective tax rates from net childcare costs and tapering of the childcare subsidy on joint income. The LNP does not propose any more support for childcare further to its 2017 childcare subsidy. It has been niggardly with early childhood investment...
ASX childcare CEOs say no need for tantrums
Financial Review - Simon Evans - May 20, 2019
ASX-listed childcare operators say there won't be much downside from the Labor Party's proposed $4 billion childcare package now vanishing after the surprise election result, and it might actually help in lifting long-term returns for investors. Gary Carroll, the chief executive of G8 Education said occupancy rates were improving...
‘Can we rely on you?’: What not to say to mothers returning to work
Women's Agenda - Karen Gately - May 20, 2019
Consciously or otherwise, far too many employers continue to operate under false assumptions about women returning to work. It’s incredibly common, for example, to hear women complain of being ‘grilled’ about their childcare arrangements, or the impact their need to look after children will have on their ability to be reliable ...
Think Childcare And Education Limited (TNK.AX) Placed Under the Lens
Easton Contributor - May 20, 2019
Think Childcare And Education Limited (TNK.AX) shares have sparked the interest of some chartists as the Money Flow Index has dropped below 30, potentially heading for key 20 levels. The Money Flow Index is an indicator that utilizes the volume and volatility of an asset to determine the buying or selling pressure of an asset...
The Stock Market Winners and Losers From Australia's Election
Bloomberg - Tim Smith and Matthew Burgess - May 20, 2019
Child Care: Childcare providers rallied on Labor’s plans to increase childcare subsidies for those on lower incomes, with families earning up to A$174,000 ($120,000) a year promised they would be able to claim a rebate. RBC Capital analyst Garry Sherriff wrote in a note last month the proposal was a net positive...
ACA is keen to work with government to put needs of Australia’s young children
Mirage News - May 19, 2019
Australia’s peak body for private long day early learning services, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) extends its congratulations to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Coalition on their federal election win. “The community engagement during the lead up to this election has shown that ..."
What the Morrison government promised to do next
The Age - Zach Hope - May 18, 2019
Early childhood. The budget pledged $453 million to fund four-year-old kindergarten for another year and ensure children have access to 15 hours a week of preschool in the year before school. The Coalition has not outlined any long-term early childhood measures beyond its reforms of 2018...
Deadly asbestos found at Ashfield Pool redevelopment site
The Daily Telegraph - Ben Pike - May 18, 2019
A local council has been accused of caring more about car fumes from WestConnex than asbestos in a major Sydney redevelopment site.
Local residents and businesses — including a childcare centre — have not been told by Inner West Council about the discovery of the potentially deadly building material...
New laws allow marina precinct changes at Royal Pines Resort
Mirage News - May 18, 2019
The Palaszczuk Government has approved changes to the Royal Pines Resort’s development scheme to allow a child care centre, commercial services and a recreational facility in the future. “This amendment is about ensuring that young families have the option to access to child care close to their home ..."
We need 21st century thinking for childcare
Weekend Switzer - Fi Bendall - May 17, 2019
Regardless of who is in power, childcare is one of the biggest policy challenges facing the government. It’s a complex area with lots of moving parts and numerous stakeholders. It’s also an emotive area because it involves the care of our children and has a massive impact on the finances ...
Union agreements are among possible options for implementing childcare pay rise
Brisbane Times - Anna Patty - May 17, 2019
Union negotiated wage agreements will be among options a Labor government would consider to implement its $9.9 billion pay rise for up to 100,000 childcare workers. Labor's employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor said "enterprise agreements, of course, would be one of the...
Kids Capers OOSH childcare centre to close at Northbridge
North Shore Times - Steven Deare - May 16, 2019
Parents on the north shore are scrambling for alternative childcare arrangements after learning a Northbridge centre will close its doors. The Kids Capers OOSH (out of school hours) centre at Northbridge will close on July 5 due to financial difficulties. Students from Cammeray and Northbridge public schools...
