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Childcare Alliance Australia
Media Release - Embargoed midnight Sunday December 06 2009
54.3% SA families say they can’t afford any Government-
forced fee increases to childcare: 1000-strong survey of
parents reveals today
More than 1000 families with children in formal community or private long day child care centres
across Australia have said no to the fee increases that may arise from the Government’s proposed
national childcare reforms.
In a clear message to COAG Ministers meeting in Brisbane today (Monday) to discuss the proposed
reform agenda, parents, including those from South Australia, warn the Governments to consider the
financial and social impact on their families before implementing any reforms.
“It is a matter of being a member of the work force or not. I want to provide for my children the
best way I can and these reforms are going to force me out of the work force and on to
government benefits which we cost everyone anyway. I agree we need quality AFFORDABLE
childcare options but at what cost to either me directly or the community indirectly?” Parent
from the electorate of Mayo in South Australia.
The quantitative and qualitative survey was conducted online amongst parents
by the Childcare
Alliance Australia which represents 70% of all long day childcare centres in Australia and whose staff
care and educate more than 330,000 young children. The 1095 responses were collated by research
field house My Opinions.
The groundbreaking survey
found that 65.7% of South Australian
parents (80% nationally) surveyed
had heard of the Government’s proposed reforms to childcare which includes increasing the ratio of
staff to children. Overwhelmingly South Australian parents (97.1%) already rate the early learning care
their child receives
as very good or excellent while 97.1% class the staff at their South Australian
child’s centre as very good or excellent.
“(Access to quality childcare is) very important as I have to work 5 days a week to make ends
meet. If I was able to raise my own child I would be in heaven.” - Parent from the electorate of
Grey in South Australia.
However, when it comes to the anticipated fee increase (ranging from $13 - $22 per day per child) that
the Government’s reform agenda is expected to incur; more than half of South Australian families say
they could not afford to have their child or children continue at their centre.
“It scares me as it would severely impact my ability to pay the fees.” Parent from the electorate
of Makin in South Australia.
When asked what the impact of a fee increase would be on their families, the vast majority of parents
surveyed say it will be devastating for them and their children. Many working mothers say they will be
forced to quit their jobs and stay at home with their child.
“If I was unable to arrange alternative care (grandparents) I would have to quit my job as I do
not earn enough to be able to factor in the extra money each week for child care as well as
pay bills and put food on the table for my family.” Parent from the electorate of Mayo.
Others claim their families will have to cut back on other household essentials
such as petrol and
groceries. Single mothers believe it may force them back onto the single parent pension.
“I would find that trying to adjust our budget to afford this additional cost, very difficult and
would take away from other family needs/requirements eg: groceries extracurricular activities.”
Parent from the electorate of Adelaide.
Ms Barbara Langford, President of Childcare Associations Australia and Childcare South Australia,
(members of the Childcare Alliance Australia) says her members applaud the Federal Government’s
recognition of the importance of quality private and community child care but there are
very real
concerns about the unintended consequences for families of the proposed National Quality Agenda
Early Childhood Education and Care.
“Many of our parents have few alternatives when it comes to child care. Many have no extended family
or no other reliable means of care. Many children will be forced into unreliable and potentially unsafe
backyard care arrangements,” Ms Langford said.
“We need to make sure that these well intentioned reforms don’t price struggling families out of quality
early learning programs altogether.”
Ms Langford called on the Prime Minister, Premier Rann and all of the COAG Ministers to carefully
consider the financial and social impact on parents before committing to implementing the proposed
reform agenda.
“As this survey demonstrates, parents consider Australia’s long day childcare centres are world class
already. We need to ensure all children have affordable access to quality early learning programs.
“Our children are too precious and their futures too important for us to rush this through and get this
wrong,” Ms Langford said.
The Childcare Alliance Australia will provide a report of the survey to the Prime Minister, the Minister
responsible for Childcare, Ms Kate Ellis, each Premier and their education Ministers.
ENDS
and for media
interviews, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Barbara Langford on 0417 874391 or the other
State representatives on the contact details below:
ACT & QLD—Gwynn Bridge 0418 764
779
SA—Barbara Langford 0417 874 391
NSW—Lyn Connolly 0425 225 275
VIC—Lucian Roncon 0419 004 800
WA—Roslyn Thompson 0407 652 177
Research Methodology: n=1095 online survey across Australia of parents whose child/children
attend a long day care centre. Survey conducted between October 13, 2009 and December 04,
2009.
NEWS 
