500 childcare providers converge to discuss quality education and care for Queensland’s children
National reforms to Queensland childcare centres and operations are threatening to jeopardise parents’ ability to access quality childcare and will force an increase in childcare costs.
National Quality Reforms, due to rollout 1 January 2012, will see the cost of quality long day childcare increase from at least $13-$22 a day per child over the rollout period says Childcare Queensland.
A Childcare Queensland survey conducted in April of over 970 Australian parents with children in childcare found that over 75 per cent could not afford further childcare cost increases and would be forced to reduce work hours and remove their children from care.
“The childcare sector is asking the Federal Government to help parents by funding the additional costs that Queensland parents will be expected to pay once the Federal reforms are introduced in 2012,” Childcare Queensland CEO Gwynn Bridge said.
“Parents with a child in care for four days a week can expect fee increases of on average $65 a week per child when the national reforms are introduced,” Ms Bridge said.
“Unfortunately for Queensland, its leading high standards mean that centres were built to accommodate a specific group size of children per room,” she said
“A room that was built for ten children for example, will after the introduction of National Reforms only be able to take eight children.”
Queensland centres will average a loss of 6 child care places as a result of the reforms and unfortunately, these costs will be passed on to families.
“The Queensland childcare sector is anxious to hear if Minister Ellis will assist families to maintain their workforce participation by increasing subsidies to cover the increased costs that will flow on from proposed new regulations to struggling Queensland parents,” Ms Bridge said.
Childcare Queensland is Australia’s largest state child care organisation with a membership of 880 long-day care centres, caring for 115,000 children, communicating with over 210,000 parents and representing 15,000 staff.
Available for interview: Childcare Queensland CEO Gwynn Bridge 0418 764 779
links to media that arose from this media release
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/06/19/childcare-fees-to-slug-families/
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/06/20/child-care-reforms-no-walk-in-the-park/
