Page 215 - Week 01 - Wednesday, 10 February 2010
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Mrs Dunne: Sorry, I will stop interrupting when—
MR ASSISTANT SPEAKER: Mrs Dunne, order! That is sufficient. We have had this conversation before. If you want to have something to say, say it to me.
MS BURCH: The capacity of parents to pay influences to varying degrees the costs of the childcare provided to their children. There is assistance for families who struggle to meet these costs. The commonwealth government provides a rebate to parents for the costs of childcare. In some situations, this is up to 50 per cent of fees. The ACT government also supports children and families through programs that assist low income and disadvantaged families, through funded emergency placements, and through casual and short-term care at childcare centres across the ACT.
The ACT government is committed to continue to deliver high-quality education and care services for children in the ACT. The ACT government continues to provide increased funding for the provision of childcare services, spending $632 per child from birth to 12 years of age. That is an increase of $145 on the previous year. This compares to a national average of $353.
The ACT has high-quality childcare services. The National Childcare Accreditation Council rated ACT long day care services as more than 90 per cent satisfactory or higher on health, nutrition and wellbeing children indicators. The ACT received the highest results across Australia. The ACT was also rated above the national average on protective care and safety of children, and the third highest in Australia.
The ACT childcare centres and family day care providers are monitored more regularly than other states and territories, a reflection of the ACT government’s commitment to ensure high-quality services are provided. There has also been a 30 per cent increase in degree and diploma qualified staff working in ACT long day care during the past 12 months and an increase of 57 per cent in overall enrolments at CIT in the children’s services program.
However, this government is committed to further increasing quality childcare standards for our children. To this end, we are working with the sector to implement the national quality framework, which will improve staffing ratios in childcare and preschool rooms, lift the qualifications of childcare staff and ensure children receive quality play and education programs. This important work reflects the strong investment in our children so they thrive and grow into healthy, well-rounded adults. These endeavours work towards improving childcare services for all children and young people, including those in the ACT.
Every step along the way, Mr Assistant Speaker, the opposition have opposed these reforms, rejecting quality childcare for our children. Every step along the way, they do not want to embrace the national quality agenda. They have no interest in supporting portable long service leave. So every day along the way they have no interest in the workforce of childcare. They want childcare, but they do not want to support the workforce that provides the care to each and every one of those children.
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