Page 1087 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 3 May 2006
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care services an average of $139 per week was charged. Occasional care and in-home care services are usually charged on an hourly basis, with an average of $5.35 per hour for occasional care and $11.84 per hour for in-home care being reported in the 2004 census.
The Australian Capital Territory had the highest average weekly fees for private long day care and family day care. Variations in fees may be due to a number of factors, including different state and territory licensing requirements that determine child-staff ratios, accommodation costs and whether the fee includes charges for additional services. While nationally 91 per cent of long day care centres open for 50 hours or more a week, only three per cent of children attended care for 50 hours or more. As in 2002, the Australian Capital Territory had the highest proportion of children in full-time long day care—40 hours per week or more—representing 20 per cent.
Some groups in the population need to be designated as high priority for access to funded childcare. Based on the findings of the 2004 census of childcare services, the highest priority group was children who are at risk of serious abuse or neglect. The second highest priority group was children of a single parent who is—or parents who are both—working, studying or training for work, or seeking employment. The third highest priority group was all other children.
It is hoped that, at the territory level, the following groups would be given, in no particular order, a measured level of priority: children from Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander families; children with a disability; children whose parents have a continuing disability; children in families on lower incomes; children from a culturally diverse background; children in socially isolated families; and children of single parents. Of great interest, I believe, in our community, will be an increasing demand for work-related care.
We appear to be coming to a point where demand for services cannot be matched by a sufficient supply of adequate facilities at the territory level, supported by commonwealth places. I am mindful also that all forms of childcare will need to commence adjustments to service provision to manage the variety of children who require care. Children with special needs or disabilities come to mind—that being my shadow portfolio responsibility—and children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This shift in need will have an obvious impact on how funding will need to be allocated to the different forms of childcare services and how both levels of government are monitoring and maintaining a responsive approach to meeting demand.
From a national perspective, it is encouraging that there is evidence of a growth in formal qualifications being sought by staff in the industry. According to the 2004 census, 60 per cent of all long day care staff have formal qualifications, compared with 55 per cent in 2002 and 54 per cent in 1999. Private and community long day care centres had equal proportions—60 per cent—of qualified staff. In family day care schemes, 73 per cent of coordination staff and 25 per cent of caregivers have formal qualifications. In home care schemes, 71 per cent of coordination staff and 32 per cent of caregivers have formal qualifications.
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