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And the (Childcare) Survey Says?
09-January-2012
An internal survey of Australian childcare centres has found two thirds of operators
cannot find the qualified staff they need to meet new Government rules, in force from this month.
Shadow Childcare Minister, Sussan Ley, says “increasing the number of qualified carers-
to-children is at the very heart of these reforms. Quite simply, the people needed to fill the positions are not available or not yet fully trained”.
“Minister Kate Ellis has spent much of this year trashing the brand of Australian childcare which is turning potential workers away. Even if she could conjure up qualified staff from thin air, they are headed for better paid primary school positions rather than childcare.”
Conducted earlier this month, the nationwide analysis from over 400 centres also shows
three quarters of all childcare centres will be forced to increase their fees to meet the new benchmarks, 25% of those predicting rises of between $30 to $50 per week.
“These increases are well above Government forecasts and come at a time when families
can least afford them. It will drive many working parents, particularly mums, back home”, Ms Ley said.
“We already knew the childcare industry would struggle to meet the new guidelines.
Hopefully this survey will shock the Minister off the beach and back into the sandpit.”
“Everyone wants quality childcare. Listening and consulting with the industry is the best
way to enable a smooth and sensible transition to achieve that”, Ms Ley concluded.