9 July 2010
Today’s announcement by Prime Minister Gillard that the Child Care Rebate is to be paid to families two weeks in arrears from 1st July, 2011 will assist families struggling to meet their weekly child care fees.
Gwynn Bridge, President of the Australian Childcare Alliance, today welcomed the announcement and said “The government has definitely moved a step in the right direction to assist families”. Ms Bridge stated that the three month in arrears payment was causing financial hardship for working families.
There is ongoing debate between the sector and government to stop the erosion of child care subsidies for families that has been occurring over the past few years due to bracket creep.
The Childcare Alliance Australia (CAA) represents 70% of the long day child care sector and with staff who care for more than 400,000 young children. Ms. Bridge also said that the Alliance was encouraged by the fact that the government had listened to the voice of families.
The Alliance will continue to advocate on behalf of families who are not entitled to receive the Child Care Rebate and whose children are unable to attend a formal early learning service due to affordability constraints.
Ms. Bridge said “Research has shown and government acknowledges that the early years are a vital period in a child’s life to receive the social and developmental skills prior to their first year of schooling”.
The Alliance has called on government to double the Child Care Benefit for children aged 0 – 3 years and to substantially increase the Child Care Benefit for the children over 3.
