Page 4860 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 25 October 2011
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We know there is value in a national framework and national minimum standards. I do not think it would be in the territory’s interests to move away from putting in place the staff to children ratios even before the scheme begins. But as I say, we need to ensure that they are supported and that this transition is not a traumatic time for centres. I know there are many out there that are already ready to go and there are others well on their way. That is why we need to ensure that everybody is supported to go through this process.
I mentioned in my earlier speech that $9 million went out, and it was a good move by government to get money out there. That money was directed at government owned facilities and, in the case of this childcare centre, it is a not-for-profit childcare provider. It has been established in the inner north of Canberra for many years and it has served many families well. It is a not-for-profit group; it is parents who are running it. As Mrs Dunne pointed out in her speech, they need to increase the floor space in order to be able to care for 12 babies, which would make their centre viable into the future. It is also about siblings, where you have a child who goes into the toddler room or into the preschool room and by then another child has been born. It is about being able to ensure that that younger sibling will be able to attend the same childcare spaces as the older child in the family.
We need to look at how we can provide support. I understand that about $20,000 to $25,000 has been given to this organisation to assist with some of the costs. But I urge the minister to ensure that the exemptions can be put in place, if a good case is put up, to ensure that we are not going to have a situation where centres are going to close down, families are thrown into chaos with not having childcare and childcare places are lost when we know that we really need to be moving in the direction of increasing the number of places right across the territory. There is a bit of a baby boom that is going on, and parents need high quality care while they are at work.
MS BURCH (Brindabella—Minister for Community Services, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Women and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) (11.51): The government will not be supporting the amendment put forward by Mrs Dunne. We do not think the amendment fits within the bill. Rather, it sits within the national transition arrangements. But, that said, I understand the situation. I have been speaking to a number of services about the transition, which is why we have put a significant amount of effort and work into supporting the sector, particularly around the new ratios. Because of the new ratios, staffing requirements from birth to 24 months have been modified to allow a lower ratio of one to four in recognising that these are the very important years.
The sector itself has been seeking this change for some time, recognising the importance of quality education and care for children and the staff. The government has been working with the sector since 2009 to plan the transition to these new arrangements, and a change in policy to this extent may see the sector lose confidence in the government and in the regulatory authority.
Just to outline some of the consultative process that the regulation unit has undertaken, in October and November 2009 there were information sessions. In March 2010 there
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