Page 306 - Week 01 - Thursday, 17 February 2011
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children aged between six and 12 years who attended Australian government approved childcare services in the ACT. This represents 40.5 per cent of children under five and 18.8 per cent of children between the ages of six and 12.
That said, this makes up approximately only half of all childcare in the ACT. Much of the remainder is taken up through informal arrangements, which may include grandparents, other relatives, friends and the like. It is common knowledge now that expecting mothers have had to put their unborn child on a waiting list at some childcare centres. As the Canberra Times reported, the demand for childcare places is so strong that parents-to-be are charged a fee for the privilege of having their unborn child considered for a place.
Yet with all this—the current state of play in the childcare sector and the vital role it plays in our community and economy—government support is wanting. For example, in last year’s budget announcement it was noted that, in real terms, total recurrent expenditure had dropped from $5 million in 2004-05 to $4 million in 2008-09. Whilst taking into consideration net capital expenditure, this amounts to $5.5 million in 2004-05, decreasing to $4.5 million in 2008-09.
At a time when the concern is with the cost and availability of childcare places, the national quality agenda framework has made addressing acute childcare needs even harder. With initiatives that require every centre to have an early childhood teacher and a lowering of the educator-to-child ratio from five to four, these will have considerable pressures on local childcare providers.
It is already common knowledge that we currently have a skills shortage in this city. Requirements like the educator-to-child ratio, given the current state of play and lack of government leadership on the matter, would invariably do nothing more than decrease the available number of childcare places. As Ms Gwynn Bridge, the President of the Australian Childcare Alliance, noted, some centres may choose not to put on an extra staff member and instead cut places.
In the present environment, operating a childcare service is not easy. We see that in 2010 there have been approximately 71 instances of notifiable instruments under the Children and Young People (Childcare Service Licence) Temporary Standards Exemption, with reasons for exemptions ranging from issues regarding leave, but also more urgent issues like recruitment and qualifications. This is up from the previous figures in 2009, which were at 51 exemptions.
The point that I am making here is that we are all in support of ensuring that all families have access to quality childcare. Parents should have peace of mind that their child is being cared for and has a right to quality childcare that is safe and encourages their early development. That said, the national agenda is unrealistic in implementation and funding. Truth be said, most childcare centres are already operating at a high standard and, where standards are an issue, there are provisions and processes in place through the National Childcare Accreditation Council with the ACT government taking action to address these issues.
With possibly fewer childcare places available and higher operating costs, parents yet again will have to bear the burden of this. In a survey conducted by Childcare
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