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Childcare Alliance Australia
Media Release - Embargoed midnight Sunday December 06 2009
Nearly 8 out of 10 Victorian 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, Victorian parents, in particular,
warn the Governments to consider the financial and
social impact on their families before implementing any reforms.
I would have to quit my part time job - as I can't work full time as it is because Childcare is
already quite expensive. It took me a long time to find suitable hours for work - it would be
very sad to lose it - Parent from the electorate of Wills in Victoria.
The quantitative and qualitative survey was conducted online amongst parents across Australia 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 72% of Victorian parents (80% nationally) surveyed had heard
of the Government’s proposed reforms to childcare which includes increasing the ratio of staff to
children. 95.5% of Victorian parents (88% nationally) already rate the early learning care their child
receives
as very good or excellent while 91.9% (90.2% nationally) class the staff at their Victorian
child’s centre as very good or excellent.
“High quality child care would be the ultimate decision in returning to work. If the standards of
care to my child were not there I
would reconsider entering the work force.” Parent from the
electorate of Isaacs.
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; the overwhelming majority of parents (79.3%)
say they could not afford such a negative financial impact.
“i would have to work out the cost of petrol and the running cost of my car and most likely
have to leave work.” - Parent from the electorate of Gorton in Victoria.
In Victoria, parents react even more strongly. 79% say no, they could not afford such fee increases.
This survey did not cover the addition Victorian State Government regulation which could see a further
$17 a day per child on top of this increase.
When asked what the impact 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.
“Rude words!!!! How can I continue to afford to have 2 kids in full time childcare? I am lucky I
have a very well paying job, but I would have to reconsider my employment if the rate
increases by this per day. I would have to quit work altogether. Again, it saddens me that as a
woman I am effectively being forced out of the workplace by non-family friendly child care.”
Parent from the electorate of Chisholm in Victoria.
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.
“We have no alternatives. Ultimately we'd sell our house rather than stop working. We have to
maintain our child-care. Parent from the electorate of Kooyong in Victoria.
Childcare Alliance Australia spokesperson and Childcare Victoria President Lucian Roncon says his
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,” Mr Roncon said.
“We need to make sure that these well intentioned reforms don’t price struggling families out of quality
early learning programs altogether.
In Victoria, families are facing the double whammy of paying for
the Victorian State government reforms and those now proposed by the Federal Government.”
Mr Roncon called on the Prime Minister, Premier Brumby 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 more than
satisfied with the care and early learning their children are receiving 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,” Mr Roncon said.
The Childcare Alliance Australia will provide a report of the survey to the Prime Minister, the Minister
responsible for Childcare, the Hon Ms Kate Ellis, each Premier and their education Ministers.
ENDS
and for media
interviews, please do not hesitate to contact Victorian spokesperson
of CAA, Mr Lucian
Roncon on 0419 004800 or the other State representatives on the contact details below:
ACT & QLD—Gwynn Bridge 0418 764
779 (National President)
SA—Barbara Langford 0417 874 391
NSW—Lyn Connolly 0425 225 275
VIC—Lucian Roncon 0419 004 800
WA—Roslyn Thompson 0407652177
Research Methodology: n=1095 online survey of parents whose child/children attend a long
day care centre. Survey conducted between October 13, 2009 and December 04, 2009.
NEWS 
