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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5053 ..

ANSWERS to QUESTIONS

MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTION

QUESTION NUMBER 476

Schools - After-school Care Centres

MS TUCKER: Asked the Minister for Children's and Youth Services on notice on

5 November 1997:

In relation to After School Care Centres-

l) Can you provide a list of each After School Care Centre in Canberra, including information about who manages each centre.

2) What are the responsibilities of (a) the Department of Education and Training and (b) the Principal of each school concerning the management and operation of the centres.

3) What are the standards used by the Department to ensure quality care at the centres.

4) What documentation does the Minister or the Department require from the centres (for example audited financial statements, child care policies, centre documentation etc).

5) How does the Government ensure that any organisation managing an After School Care Centre has sufficient information to ensure quality care is provided.

6) What are the legal implications for the licensee concerning duty of care.

7) Is the Minister or your Department aware of any instances where inadequate standards of care were provided to either an individual child or several children at these Centres and can you please provide details, including what the Government did to rectify the situation.

8) Does the Minister or your Department see any problems with the present pay scales and employment conditions for staff employed at After School Care Centres in maintaining good quality care for children.

9) Are there any proposals to amend the legislation governing the licensing of After School Care Centres.

MR STEFANIAK - the answer to Ms Tucker's questions is:

All school age care programs including vacation care are licensed under the Children's Services Act 1986. Licence conditions and regulations attached to the Act cover specific standards which all services must meet. Licences are issued by the Director of Children's Services who is the Delegate of the Minister. A copy of the Act and Regulations is attached.

The answers to the specific questions are:

1) A list of all school age care programs in the ACT and their management may be found in the booklet "Child Care Facilities in the ACT" which has been provided to the Member and is available from the Children's Services Branch of the Department of Education & Training and Children's, Youth & Family Services Bureau.

2) School age care programs are non-government programs and may be operated by a non-profit organisation or a private person. All operators must be able to meet the requirements for operating school age care under the Children's Services Act 1986. Where programs

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