Child care takes the spotlight – speak up now!

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Childcare is expensive and not the most flexible of solutions for many families. Which is why it may come to some relief for those working parents who struggle to make it work when they hear the Federal Government has launched an inquiry into childcare and early childhood learning. The Productivity Commission is undertaking a public inquiry that will focus on finding a system that supports workforce participation whilst addressing children’s learning and development needs.

We are no longer a 9 to 5, 5 day a week workforce. And for those families who are working to a rigid structure many are struggling to make it work for them.

The Assistant Minister for Education, the Honourable Sussan Ley, summed it up nicely to ABC Central Coast last week: “We've all worked with - usually mums - who get nervous around half past five. The boss wants them to stay back but the childcare centre closes at six and sometimes you just feel impossibly tugged in all sorts of different directions.  So we've got to recognise that the policy settings in child care today belong to the last generation and do something for the next generation.”

The commission is set to look at different models that may be able to accommodate the next generation of childcare users – a generation that has moved from babysitting to early learning, a generation that expects quality but at an affordable price.

“We've got to find ways of providing care and early learning outside those hours. The shift workers or people who work weekends, the people where there's only - where there's no extended family support,” said Minister Ley.

The Government’s recommendations are set to be released at the end of this year with the intention that the 2015 budget will incorporate new legislation and policies to lead the changes.

We need flexible arrangements and a childcare system that supports our working parents or (as the 2012 AWALI findings found) dissatisfaction among full time working women will continue to rise (it almost doubled in the last 5 years in regards to work-life balance!)

Some changes that have been suggested are:

• Removing the red tape around schools being qualified to offer after-school-care
• Re-evaluating zoning restrictions
• Making after-school-care more affordable
• Using external organisations for after-school-care on school grounds
• Greater flexibility concerning qualifications of carers for after-school-care

Minister Ley also said last year that the inquiry will look at the childcare rebate and other subsidies. However, Australian Childcare Alliance spokeswoman, Gwynn Bridge has raised concerns that there will be no additional funding. She told ABC News that "[The concern is] when the Government is intent on providing more flexible child care, that it will cost more money and that it doesn't affect parents' funding at all."

Me and the team at mums@work would love to hear what you think via a comment below or on our facebook page. You could also log on to the Productivity Commission website and tell the Government your thoughts direct. You can either email your suggestions or submit a formal submission. The Productivity Commission is welcoming all feedback so now is your chance to get involved.

To leave a quick 1000 word comment visit the Commission’s website. 

To make a lengthier submission visit the Commission's website to download the submission form.

Note that the website asks for submissions to be sent in by the 3^rd of February 2014 however this is only for inclusion in the draft report. Your suggestions will still be accepted and considered after this date throughout the inquiry.

For more information on the specific matters the Commission has been asked to report and make recommendations on visit the Productivity Commission website.

By Emma Walsh
Founder and Director
Mums@Work