Kids at risk as childcare standards plunge
The Advertiser - Calre Masters - June 4, 2020
Childcare centres are reporting children are at risk with many centres forced to breach the legal ratios and the quality of care slipping dramatically over the COVID-19 period. With attendance now rising as Australia opens back up, childcare workers say they cannot continue to look after children...
A return to pre-COVID childcare fees will force women out of work
Women's Agenda - Madeline Hislop - June 3, 2020
More than half of families using early childhood education and care who have lost income will see one parent forced to reduce paid work if childcare fees return in full in July. This will be particularly detrimental to women’s workforce participation, with 68 per cent of those families indicating...
2020 Victorian Early Years Award nominations now open
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 3, 2020
Nominations for the Victorian Early Years Award, a staple of the early childhood sector in Victoria for the past 15 years, are now open, with families, early childhood professionals and early years organisations encouraged to recognise the outstanding work of early years professionals...
Goodstart director named as 2020 QLD Delegate of the Year in Labour Day Awards
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 3, 2020
Goodstart Early Learning Director and Australian Labor Party candidate for the Queensland seat of Theodore, Tracey Bell, has been named as the winner of the 2020 Queensland Delegate of the Year in the annual Labour Day Awards. Ms Bell was nominated by the United Workers Union...
Victoria coronavirus school clusters: Macleod Preschool closed
7News - Lucy Mae Beers - June 2, 2020
At least 20 students and staff are considered close contacts of a teacher from a Melbourne preschool who tested positive to coronavirus. On Tuesday, Victorian Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed the case at Macleod Preschool in Melbourne’s northeast and the school has been closed...
Arena REIT placement upsized: book message
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - June 2, 2020
Childcare centres owner Arena REIT is making the most of its trip to equity capital markets. A message sent to funds by lead manager Morgan Stanley on Tuesday afternoon said that the REIT's $50 million placement was oversubscribed and the company was increasing...
Medowie: $8m complex containing pharmacy, mecical centre and child care gets green light
The Daily Telegraph - Amy Ziniak, The Newcastle News - June 2, 2020
A 126-space child care centre, pharmacy and medical centre will all be part of an $8 million development coming to Medowie, after it was approved by the JRPP. The predicted population growth of a suburb in Port Stephens will drive continued development to address ...
Toxic soil removed from childcare centre in Keilor Park
Herald Sun - Alex White - June 2, 2020
Toxic soil will be stripped from a Melbourne childcare centre and a further 13 private properties are under review after testing found the cancer-causing chemical PFAS on site. The contaminated section of playground at the Milleara Integrated Learning Centre in Keilor Park has been restricted...
Union calls out COVID-19 risks with survey – two thirds of respondents feel unsafe at work
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 2, 2020
The United Workers Union has conducted a national survey of over 1,000 educators, finding that a number of them feel that there are “widespread safety risks” and “dropping standards of education and care” as the number of children attending long day care rapidly goes up...
SNAICC submission says COVID-19 has exposed and exacerbated ECEC weaknesses
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 2, 2020
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children recently provided a submission to the Federal Government inquiry into COVID-19 responses, based on consultation with its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years network about the impacts of COVID-19 on children, families...
Free childcare set to end by July but parents promised continued relief
7 News - June 2, 2020
The government is set to scrap its childcare subsidy package earlier than previously thought, with parents reportedly to start paying for childcare fees by July. But fees are likely to be cheaper than before coronavirus hit, with subsidies set to increase, The West Australian reports...
Arena REIT launches $50 million raising; Morgan Stanley, E&P on ticket
Financial Review - Sarah Thompson, Anthony Macdonald and Tim Boyd - June 2, 2020
Childcare centres owner Arena REIT was in front of fund managers on Tuesday, seeking to raise $50 million to underpin the acquisition of further social infrastructure property investments. Morgan Stanley underwrote the deal, which was structured as an institutional placement...
Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten in hands of Worrells Solvency and Forensic Accountants
Herald Sun - Kiel Egging, Maroondah Leader - June 2, 2020
More than 60 children, families and staff could be affected with a Heathmont kinder being liquidated. Administrators were appointed for the Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten on February 25 after its board raised concerns about its ongoing viability. The kindergarten...
Bethany Kindergarten Services conduct tours for parents virtually
Geelong Advertiser - Natalee Kerr - June 2, 2020
Choosing the right kindergarten for a child can be challenging at the best of times, but it is a whole new story during a pandemic. Wandana Heights mother Kate Hickey said the process can involve a lot of pressure – especially when open days have been cancelled due to COVID-19...
Working mothers penalised: Childcare subsidies must be reviewed
Financial Review - Craig Emerson - June 1, 2020
Australia’s virus-induced recession is like no other economic crisis our nation has faced: fast and brutal, it has caused more women than men to lose their jobs. In previous recessions, men have borne the brunt of job destruction. But women have been at the front line of the coronavirus crisis...
Government's free childcare scheme 'not sustainable' for many Aussie providers
9 News - Olivana Smith Lathouris - June 1, 2020
As Australia enters its third month of the government's free childcare scheme to assist families in coping with the coronavirus pandemic, some providers are struggling to keep their businesses afloat. As part of the plan, the government agreed to pay the equivalent of 50% of a childcare centre's...
Council-run ECEC services under threat without JobKeeper ALGA says
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 1, 2020
The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has said that council-run early childhood education and care (ECEC) services are “racking up big financial losses” in their struggle to stay open without access to the Commonwealth Government’s JobKeeper program...
Busy Bees lighting up with gratitude, giving thanks to children, families and communities
The Sector - Freya Lucas - June 1, 2020
Busy Bees Early Learning Australia services around the country will be commencing a one-month campaign of thanks and recognition from today, with each of the providers 63 services around the country creating a light display to show their thanks to the children, families and...
Two-storey childcare centre approved despite residents' appeal
Brisbane Times - Lucy Stone - June 1, 2020
A two-storey childcare centre will go ahead in Holland Park after the planning court dismissed an appeal brought against it by residents of neighbouring streets. Brisbane City Council approved the centre, which will cater for up to 84 children and 13 staff on a corner block at 19 Melba Crescent and ...
More than half of parents would need to cut work if free childcare ends
The Sydney Morning Herald - Wendy Tuohy - May 31, 2020
An end to the federal government's childcare rescue package would force parents in 60 per cent of households currently using care to reduce work. And it would mostly be mothers who needed to stop or cut back their hours. A national survey of 2280 families by the parents' group The Parenthood...
How much would it cost to make free childcare permanent, and would it be a good idea?
The Guardian - Nick Evershed - May 31, 2020
A better option could be to lift the childcare subsidy to 95% of fees with a simple taper and means-testing, the Grattan Institute says. Since early April, childcare in Australia has been free to parents as part of the government’s coronavirus crisis stimulus response. This means that childcare operators ...
Childcare has become a nightmare of regulation
The Sydney Morning Herald - Opinion: Amanda Vanstone - May 31, 2020
Sometimes what starts out as a good thing ends up a mess. Childcare is but one example. I think we've regulated ourselves into a nightmare. We've produced a system that gets more expensive every year, is far too expensive for many users and doesn't suit the people who work on irregular shifts...
Reconciliation efforts on Boon Wurrung land bring language, culture and stories to children
ABC News - Margaret Paul and Joseph Dunstan - May 31, 2020
August Gibbons is on a bush day at kindergarten, on a lush camping ground on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula, on Boon Wurrung land. The site is dripping with vines, dotted with birds and full of twisted trees, perfect for climbing. As he explores, he runs through some of the words he uses to...
Children are back at school — but what about coughs and colds amid coronavirus?
ABC News - By Brittany Evins, Sara Tomevska and Kathryn Bermingham - May 31, 2020
Runny noses are common in young children, and usually nothing to worry about. But as students return to classrooms amid the coronavirus pandemic, should parents be concerned if their kids come home with sore throats or sniffles — and what should they do? Restrictions might be easing in states ...
Anti-vaxxer sentiment among early childhood educators amid push for mandatory flu jabs
The Daily Telegraph - Clare Masters, News Corp Australia Network - May 30, 2020
Anti-vaxxers are infiltrating the ranks of early childcare workers who are angry at a renewed push to have them receive mandatory flu shots. Early childhood advocate and consultant Lisa Bryant said she received backlash after coming out supporting the call for ‘no jab, no pay’ and vaccination...
SA families pay back $4m in child care subsidy debts
The Advertiser - Claire Bickers - May 30, 2020
Thousands of South Australian families have been forced to collectively pay back more than $4 million in overpaid childcare subsidies. That’s more than one in 10 families using childcare, sparking calls for the subsidy to be simplified or changed to make it easier for parents to claim...
Thousands of families could withdraw from childcare if fees reimposed
The Sydney Morning Herald - Fergus Hunter - May 29, 2020
Two of Australia's largest childcare providers have warned thousands of families will cut back their children's attendance or withdraw them completely if fees are reintroduced in a month. The federal government is poised to wind back the COVID-19 childcare relief package, which introduced...
Complete ‘rethink’ of childcare system sought to keep women in jobs
mybusiness - Maja Garaca Djurdjevic - May 29, 2020
The federal government introduced a temporary $1.6 billion childcare scheme back on 6 April, freeing some 945,000 Australian families from the cost of childcare. But the scheme, which also ensured childcare centres were kept in business during the crisis, is scheduled to expire on 30 June...
Is It Too Late To Consider Buying Mayfield Childcare Limited (ASX:MFD)?
Simply Wall St - May 29, 2020
Mayfield Childcare Limited (ASX:MFD), which is in the consumer services business, and is based in Australia, received a lot of attention from a substantial price increase on the ASX over the last few months. As a small cap stock, hardly covered by any analysts, there is generally more of an...
CELA report shows impact of pandemic on children, importance of ECEC in the recovery
The Sector - Freya Lucas - May 29, 2020
A new report, delivered by Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children, and the importance of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the nation’s recovery. Michele Carnegie, chief executive of CELA, voiced her concern that...
