Media Enquiries – Gwynn Bridge – Mobile 0418 764 779 Page 1
ABN: 65 768 804 095
Unit 11, 6 Vanessa Boulevard
Springwood QLD 4127
PO Box 137
Springwood QLD 4127
Tel : (07) 3808 2366
Fax: (07) 3808 2466
Freecall: 1300 365 325
(country & rural)
Email: childcareqld@bigpond.com
MEDIA RELEASE
COAG PROPOSED REFORMS TO HURT
QUEENSLAND FAMILIES
7 December 2009
Today’s COAG decision will cause Queensland Families financial hardship as the changes to
operations flow on to families in their weekly childcare fees.
“It is evident that COAG did not heed the voice of Queensland families when this decision was
made” said Gwynn Bridge, President of Childcare Queensland. “The government consults but
does not listen”.
While Queensland is currently operating under the 1:4 ratio for babies, services currently have
the option to provide care for this age group from 0 months to 15 months at the 1:4 ratio and
15 months – 2.5 years at a 1:5 ratio. This second baby group will not be permitted to operate
after 2012.
Queensland families and service operators believe that this, combined with our small group
sizes, provides a higher quality than that proposed by COAG. The result of this will be that two
places will be lost to families in this age group. Across Queensland lost places will amount to
approximately 1,000 in this age of most demand.
Overall it is anticipated that an average of 6 licensed places will be lost from most long day
care services; a total of 8,400 places in Queensland will not be available for families to access.
This in turn will cause fees to increase substantially.
Combine this increase with award increases, additional staff and Childcare Queensland
estimates that families will be forced to pay an additional $13 – 22 per day.
If the Federal Government continues to listen to academics and not practitioners and families,
they must ensure funding is increased so that children will not be the losers.
Childcare Queensland is the largest state association of long day care centres in Australia,
representing over 850 members.
Ends
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