Child Care News
Children younger than four at risk of falling behind in maths: study
The Sydney Morning Herald - Daniella White - March 24, 2022Preschool-aged children should be taught maths to avoid life-long difficulties in the subject and prevent them from falling behind their peers later in life, an analysis suggests. In a paper for the Australian think-tank the Centre for Independent Studies, University of Missouri...
Educators and ECEC organisations invited to apply for $20,000 Margaret Trembath Scholarship
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 24, 2022Australian early childhood educators and organisations have been invited to apply for the 2022 Margaret Trembath Scholarship to support research in young children’s learning, development and/or well-being. The value of the scholarship is up to a maximum of $20,000...
Regional WA ranks worst in Australia for childcare availability
ABC News - Asha Couch and Ashleigh Davis - March 23, 2022Families around the country are feeling the pressure when it comes to getting their kids into child care, but none so much as those in regional Western Australia. A recent report into the availability of child care around Australia has found that WA has the lowest rates of...
Affordable childcare the key to boosting women’s retirement savings
Women's Agenda - Madeline Hislop - March 23, 2022ore affordable early childhood education and care could help boost the superannuation of Australian women, who are currently retiring with one third less super than men. According to a new report from Industry Super Australia, increasing the child care subsidy for...
ECEC sector peak bodies launch ambitious six-point plan ahead of Federal election
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 23, 2022Early childhood education and care peak bodies Community Child Care Association (CCC), Community Early Learning Australia (CELA) and Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) have joined forces to launch an ambitious reform plan for the sector which hinges on...
Camp Australia research shows that children in “lock down” states have experienced most stress
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 22, 2022New research from outside school hours care (OSHC) provider Camp Australia has shown that children in Australia’s most locked down states – ACT, NSW and Victoria – have been most impacted by the pandemic, being disconnected from friends and family due to remote...
35% of Australians live in Childcare Deserts – Unpacking the Mitchell Institute’s latest report
The Sector - Jason Roberts - March 22, 2022The Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy at Victoria University has released a new report in which it concludes that 35 per cent of all Australians live in “Childcare Deserts” -communities that suffer from a structural undersupply of childcare services. The report...
Special Circumstances funding boost to help child care services through flood recovery, pandemic
Ministers' Media Centre - March 21, 2022The Morrison Government is significantly increasing Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) Special Circumstances funding to assist child care services recover from the recent catastrophic floods and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding available...
ACT Health removes COVID quarantine requirement for child care close contacts in Canberra
The Canberra Times - Hannah Neale and Lucy Bladen - March 16, 2022Close contacts in the early child care sector will no longer need to quarantine and will simply require a negative rapid test to return. The new rules will align more closely with existing provisions in place for primary and secondary schools across the territory. Staff and children...
Labor announces Warawyn Early Learning Centre $1.3 million upgrade
The Advocate - Simon McGuire - March 16, 2022Federal Labor has pledged to fund upgrades to child care centres and playgroups across the Braddon electorate if elected. Speaking at Wynyard on Wednesday, Labor senator Amanda Rishworth said an Albanese Government would commit $1.3 million to upgrade the Warawyn..
Morrison Government delivers additional $40 million in ongoing kindergarten funding for Tasmanian families
Minister's Media Centre - March 15, 2022More than 25,000 Tasmanian children will benefit from a new agreement signed by the Morrison and Tasmanian governments that will deliver an additional $40 million in funding to kindergartens over the next four years. Federal Acting Minister for Education and Youth...
Victoria expands Early Language Program with 47 new ECEC services coming on board
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 15, 2022Children attending kindergarten in Victoria will have the chance to explore different languages and cultures through the expanded roll-out of the Victorian Government’s Early Childhood Language Program, with another 47 kindergarten services joining the program...
Free ECEC will be central to Australia’s economic recovery Australian Unions say
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 14, 2022Reconstructing Australia’s economy after COVID-19 will centre on developing a long-term plan to ensure that childcare and early childhood education is permanently free, the Australian Unions have said. By restoring the arrangements put in place at the height of the...
ECEC encouraged to sign on to National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence
The Sector - Freya Lucas - March 14, 2022Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services around Australia are being encouraged to join initiatives around the National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence. The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence (NDA) will take place on Friday 18 March...
ALP childcare plan would given tens of thousands to families on $500k
The Daily Telegraph - Linda Silmalis - March 13, 2022Wealthy families on more than $500,000 a year could receive tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer-funded childcare subsidy under proposed Labor policy, according to Coalition analysis. Of the more than 8000 families in this category to be potentially eligible for...
