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Thursday, April 02, 2020 12:45:25 AM
Childcare centres to stay open for free during coronavirus pandemic, Scott Morrison announces
By education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy
Updated 27 minutes ago
Photo: The Prime Minister said many Australians rely on the critical work of childcare centres. (ABC News: Robert Koenig-Luck)
Related Story: 'Nobody knows what's going to happen': New York Governor says the worst is yet to come
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-update-covid19-free-childcare-new-york-unpaid-leave/12112576
Related Story: Why the 'patchwork' childcare industry is struggling to weather the coronavirus storm
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-31/childcare-coronavirus-what-support-is-available-from-government/12105704
Related Story: The coronavirus symptoms to watch out for, according to the data
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-symptoms-fever-fatigue-common-cold-flu/12084450
Child care will be made available for free for parents who continue working during the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.
The Federal Government will also provide financial support to 13,000 centres around the country as the sector struggles to remain viable.
The announcement comes after the sector pleaded for a bailout, saying it was facing a crisis like never before because of a massive hit to both of its income streams because of falling attendance.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the childcare sector would be overhauled to provide free care for working parents from next week.
"The old system was drafted for a pre-pandemic time," he said.
"We'll be moving to a different childcare system as of Sunday night. It will be a system that will mean parents will get their child care for free.
"Can I say to all of those parents: what we want to do by doing this is ensure your childcare centre will remain open so that where you normally take your child to get cared for, that will be there for you so you are not looking to have to go to a new centre."
Mr Morrison said child care and early childhood education was crucial, particularly for parents who relied on it so they could continue working in critical industries.
"Critical areas are not just the obvious ones — it is not just the doctors or the nurses who are at the hospitals, it is the cleaners at the hospitals as well.
"It is the people driving trucks to get food out to supermarkets and ensure the supplies continue.
"If you have a job in this economy then that is an essential job, in my view, in terms of the running of the economy and it is important that all of those parents who have children, that they get access to child care and those facilities will be there for them in the many months ahead.
"I don't want a parent to have to choose between feeding
their kids and having their kids looked after."
Childcare centres close after double-whammy hits sector
The childcare sector has been struggling to remain viable because of an exodus of children, and has been desperate for a bailout.
It relies on a mix of payments from the Federal Government and parents.
The Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (CCS) makes up, on average, about 60 per cent of the upfront payment to centres. The rest comes from parents.
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how
the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's
Coronacast podcast.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/coronacast/latest-segments/12025304
In the past month, many parents have kept their children at home over fears their children may get sick.
Children have also been kept home because parents have lost their jobs and can no longer afford childcare, or no longer need it.
That has meant the sector's been hit by a double-whammy, losing both sources of income, and more than 600 childcare and after school care centres have closed.
The industry immediately welcomed today's package, saying its future was now secure.
Early Childhood Association CEO Samantha Page said it meant childcare centres could keep operating, educators would remain employed and parents would have a place to send their kids.
"We were really not exaggerating things when we were talking about the sector being in crisis," she said.
"A lot of businesses will be relieved, particularly the fast-tracking of putting a new system in place so that services can implement that from next week," she said.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
* Can you be evicted during the coronavirus crisis?
https://www.abc.net.au/cm/lb/12027368/data/coronacast-pic-teaser-data.jpg
* What are the symptoms of coronavirus and how are they different to cold viruses?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-symptoms-fever-fatigue-common-cold-flu/12084450
* Can I visit my parents? The coronavirus rules state by state
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-31/how-australian-states-are-enforcing-coronavirus-measures/12106774
But there are questions about the largest childcare operator, Goodstart. It does not yet qualify because its revenue is too large, and it has not yet lost 50 per cent of it.
Mr Tehan said he would continue to liaise with the company, but he was "not saying exemptions will be made".
"They make a profit of $100 million annually," he said.
But Goodstart told the ABC it had never made a $100 million profit and the company would have more to say later.
"Our profit last year was just 1 per cent — $11 million," a spokeswoman said. "The money the Minister referred to was net assets — not profits."
More to come.
Video: The rate of COVID-19 infections appears to be slowing but don't celebrate yet (7.30)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-01/the-rate-of-covid-19-infection-appears-to-be/12112310
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-child-care-free-scott-morrison-announcement/12114110
See also:
EU condemns Trump travel ban from Europe as virus spreads
Thursday, 03/12/20
[...]
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, meanwhile, announced the closure of all schools, colleges, childcare facilities
and cultural institutions from Thursday evening until March 29. He encouraged people to work from home.
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=154304421
Umm, Ireland first .. Confirmation that the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic had spread to Ireland came on 29 February 2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland
and all closures above March 12. Twelve days later. A quick one month hit.
Australia's first .. ...The first case to be recorded in Australia was on 25 January 2020
in Victoria, when a man returning from Wuhan, China, was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia
So first confirmed, in Australia a month before Ireland's first. And many schools and childcare places in Australia open though most children at home.
The little bit there to illustrate the different approaches taken. See reply...
By education and parenting reporter Conor Duffy
Updated 27 minutes ago
Photo: The Prime Minister said many Australians rely on the critical work of childcare centres. (ABC News: Robert Koenig-Luck)
Related Story: 'Nobody knows what's going to happen': New York Governor says the worst is yet to come
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-update-covid19-free-childcare-new-york-unpaid-leave/12112576
Related Story: Why the 'patchwork' childcare industry is struggling to weather the coronavirus storm
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-31/childcare-coronavirus-what-support-is-available-from-government/12105704
Related Story: The coronavirus symptoms to watch out for, according to the data
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-symptoms-fever-fatigue-common-cold-flu/12084450
Child care will be made available for free for parents who continue working during the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced.
The Federal Government will also provide financial support to 13,000 centres around the country as the sector struggles to remain viable.
The announcement comes after the sector pleaded for a bailout, saying it was facing a crisis like never before because of a massive hit to both of its income streams because of falling attendance.
Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan said the childcare sector would be overhauled to provide free care for working parents from next week.
"The old system was drafted for a pre-pandemic time," he said.
"We'll be moving to a different childcare system as of Sunday night. It will be a system that will mean parents will get their child care for free.
"Can I say to all of those parents: what we want to do by doing this is ensure your childcare centre will remain open so that where you normally take your child to get cared for, that will be there for you so you are not looking to have to go to a new centre."
Mr Morrison said child care and early childhood education was crucial, particularly for parents who relied on it so they could continue working in critical industries.
"Critical areas are not just the obvious ones — it is not just the doctors or the nurses who are at the hospitals, it is the cleaners at the hospitals as well.
"It is the people driving trucks to get food out to supermarkets and ensure the supplies continue.
"If you have a job in this economy then that is an essential job, in my view, in terms of the running of the economy and it is important that all of those parents who have children, that they get access to child care and those facilities will be there for them in the many months ahead.
"I don't want a parent to have to choose between feeding
their kids and having their kids looked after."
Childcare centres close after double-whammy hits sector
The childcare sector has been struggling to remain viable because of an exodus of children, and has been desperate for a bailout.
It relies on a mix of payments from the Federal Government and parents.
The Commonwealth Childcare Subsidy (CCS) makes up, on average, about 60 per cent of the upfront payment to centres. The rest comes from parents.
Coronavirus questions answered
Breaking down the latest news and research to understand how
the world is living through an epidemic, this is the ABC's
Coronacast podcast.
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/coronacast/latest-segments/12025304
In the past month, many parents have kept their children at home over fears their children may get sick.
Children have also been kept home because parents have lost their jobs and can no longer afford childcare, or no longer need it.
That has meant the sector's been hit by a double-whammy, losing both sources of income, and more than 600 childcare and after school care centres have closed.
The industry immediately welcomed today's package, saying its future was now secure.
Early Childhood Association CEO Samantha Page said it meant childcare centres could keep operating, educators would remain employed and parents would have a place to send their kids.
"We were really not exaggerating things when we were talking about the sector being in crisis," she said.
"A lot of businesses will be relieved, particularly the fast-tracking of putting a new system in place so that services can implement that from next week," she said.
Your questions on coronavirus answered:
* Can you be evicted during the coronavirus crisis?
https://www.abc.net.au/cm/lb/12027368/data/coronacast-pic-teaser-data.jpg
* What are the symptoms of coronavirus and how are they different to cold viruses?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-symptoms-fever-fatigue-common-cold-flu/12084450
* Can I visit my parents? The coronavirus rules state by state
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-31/how-australian-states-are-enforcing-coronavirus-measures/12106774
But there are questions about the largest childcare operator, Goodstart. It does not yet qualify because its revenue is too large, and it has not yet lost 50 per cent of it.
Mr Tehan said he would continue to liaise with the company, but he was "not saying exemptions will be made".
"They make a profit of $100 million annually," he said.
But Goodstart told the ABC it had never made a $100 million profit and the company would have more to say later.
"Our profit last year was just 1 per cent — $11 million," a spokeswoman said. "The money the Minister referred to was net assets — not profits."
More to come.
Video: The rate of COVID-19 infections appears to be slowing but don't celebrate yet (7.30)
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-01/the-rate-of-covid-19-infection-appears-to-be/12112310
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-02/coronavirus-child-care-free-scott-morrison-announcement/12114110
See also:
EU condemns Trump travel ban from Europe as virus spreads
Thursday, 03/12/20
[...]
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, meanwhile, announced the closure of all schools, colleges, childcare facilities
and cultural institutions from Thursday evening until March 29. He encouraged people to work from home.
https://investorshub.advfn.com/boards/read_msg.aspx?message_id=154304421
Umm, Ireland first .. Confirmation that the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic had spread to Ireland came on 29 February 2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland
and all closures above March 12. Twelve days later. A quick one month hit.
Australia's first .. ...The first case to be recorded in Australia was on 25 January 2020
in Victoria, when a man returning from Wuhan, China, was tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_coronavirus_pandemic_in_Australia
So first confirmed, in Australia a month before Ireland's first. And many schools and childcare places in Australia open though most children at home.
The little bit there to illustrate the different approaches taken. See reply...
It was Plato who said, “He, O men, is the wisest, who like Socrates, knows that his wisdom is in truth worth nothing”
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