Coker wants childcare sector to speak up

CORANGAMITE Labor federal member Libby Coker will hold a virtual town hall meeting later this month to learn more about how the childcare sector is handling not only the coronavirus pandemic but also the funding model introduced in response by the Coalition government.
Last month, the Coalition announced it would spend $1.6 billion over the next six months to pay 50 per cent of the revenue of child care centres up to the existing hourly rate cap, but only if centres remained open and did not charge families for care.
“We will be ensuring for those parents who are still in that position where they are needing that child care, it will be free,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at the time.
However, some centres are struggling to adjust to the drop in revenue, and some parents have been unable to find places for their children.
Armstrong Creek East Children’s Centre co-ordinator Shayne Cronin said her facility had 120 families before the coronavirus pandemic began, but this dropped to 65 families in the space of a week.
“That meant about 16 educators that didn’t have shifts. That was the panic phase, everyone was up in arms and didn’t know what to do.”
Ms Cronin said the Coalition’s initial message of “free childcare” was confusing, as it increased demand but childcare centres still had to bear the cost.
“We’ve had to cap our numbers, so down the track I’m going to have to say no to families, which I’m going to find impossible because I know we have vacancies.”
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education Rishworth said examples were emerging where, as a result of the changes, early learning providers were having to reduce staff, cut opening hours, deny care to new families or cancel existing enrolments to remain financially viable.
“The government’s changes restrict providers to 50 per cent of their revenue as of the beginning of March and, if eligible, Jobkeeper payments. There is also a top up fund, but this is only available in very limited circumstances. As a result, many providers no longer have the financial capacity to take new enrolments or allow parents to increase their hours.”
Ms Coker said her office had heard several examples of parents being denied places, in some cases even where another child already attended the same centre and the place had been confirmed in March. She and Ms Rusworth also spoke with local childcare providers via Zoom on April 29.
To register for the virtual town hall on May 22 at 2pm, head to libbycoker.com.au.