HIGHER STANDARDS REQUIRE EXTRA HELP

ACASH splash from the federal government into the already complex childcare sector has been welcomed by Gold Coast providers, but they also need a hand up. Gone are the days where daycare centres are places for preschoolers to be babysat while their parents work – they have morphed into centres of excellence.

One provider says parents actively shop around to make sure childcare centres not only meet the government’s National Quality Standard but actually exceed it.

The initiative, set by the National Quality Framework, aims to improve educator-to-child ratios in services, increased skills and qualifications and give parents a quality ratings system to ensure they’re making informed choices about where to send their children.

But providers say they aren’t being offered any extra financial support to reach these standards and staff are becoming increasingly hard to find, particularly as they have to compete with schools, who offer better conditions and higher wages.

Pressure on providers is at its highest as astute families demand more bang for their buck, especially as some centres charge $110 a day per child.

Ten years ago parents had to pack and name nappies and bring in threeto-five meals or snacks a day.

Childcare providers are increasingly having to manage high expectations of parents, rightly or wrongly, and all they want is for the government to see the value they are adding to preschoolers lives.