Read the ACA submission to the Jobs For Families Child Care Assistance Package Senate Inquiry. This reform package needs a number of significant changes to ensure that no child is worse off and families can still access quality, affordable care.
Read the latest snapshot from the Department of Education and Training for the March 2015 quarter. The Early Childhood and Child Care in Summary report presents information on the numbers of children and families using approved child care, the costs of care and the numbers and types of services in Australia.
ACA continues our campaign to ensure All Children Count in the proposed Jobs For Families package. The reform package is currently before a Senate Inquiry and we are fighting hard to ensure that all children, regardless of their family situation, have access to a minimum amount subsidised childcare access. We firmly believe that #AllChildrenCount and encourage our members to get involved! pdf Download the poster and share in your newsletters, services and online. Stay tuned for updates.
Only three weeks into January and the year is already off to a flying start. We are so excited about the amazing conferences and retreats being organised by our state organisations - you won't want to miss out! You can read about the upcoming conferences and other events in your area here. Meanwhile, we are working hard to prepare our submission to the Jobs for Families Childcare Assistance Package. Thank you to all those members who have provided feedback on how these changes will affect families, children and your services. Here's what we are fighting for:
Please reach out to our national Executive Officer, Anna Minson via
In May 2015, the Federal Government released a comprehensive Child Care Assistance Package as part of the 2015/16 Federal Budget. A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was released in late June 2015, with consultation on the RIS closing 31 July 2015. You can access a copy of the 98-page RIS here. It should be noted that this RIS does not cover the Interim Home Based Carer Subsidy Programme(Nanny Trial), as this is subject to a separate consultation process. ACA lodged a detailed submission in response to the RIS, outlining a number of areas of significant concern. You can access ACA’s submission by clicking here.
As part of our partnership with the Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors (ABLA), Australian Childcare Alliance members right across the country are invited to participate in select ABLA webinars free of charge, covering vitally important issues from bullying and discrimination to termination of employment to commercial leasing. The second of these fantastic webinars will be held AEST 12pm - 1pm Tuesday 9th June 2015, focused on Bullying & Discrimination Update. This webinar will cover both the human relations and legal elements to performance management and examine what is required for an effective proactive as well as reactive approach. Click here to register for Tuesday's webinar. For the full list of free webinars available to members over the next 8 months, pdf please see attachment.
ACA reiterates its support for a number of measures in the 2015 Budget, but is disappointed it does not provide immediate relief for families. pdf More
11 May 2015 - Budget 2015: Childcare system receives shake-up under new Government plan to support low income families.
Most families will receive more help with childcare costs under the Abbott Government's major budget initiative, but the boost will come at the expense of some new parents and families with one parent staying at home.
The Federal Government has released its much anticipated Federal Childcare Assistance Package, which is intended to see the introduction of a new child care subsidy from 1 July 2017.
ACA President Ms Gwynn Bridge said that the Australian Government should be commended for not only listening to the expert advice of the early childhood sector but more importantly committing to measures that will ensure children can access early childhood education in the majority of circumstances.
Staff ratio changes will see childcare costs rise again in 2016.
See President Gwynne Bridge comments here