FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 2005
BPW Australia calls on the Australian Government to work with the States and Territories to review the funding of both childcare and preschool programs to finally provide affordable and accessible services for Australian families.
BPW Australia also seeks a reduction in the gap between the cost of childcare and the childcare rebate and more long day care places to make childcare more affordable for families.
á The impact of the lack of affordable and available childcare has been underestimated by government policies. AustraliaÕs economic climate requires two parents to work and Australian women want to work.
á However current policy and lack of funding support has denied parents the option of working fulltime and placing children in quality long term childcare. The lack of quality, appropriate, affordable and available childcare means women must choose either to not have children or leave the work force.
á For most working women there is no choice and no other option in the matter. This is simply the outcome of inadequate and inappropriate government policy and planning.
á Consider this, an analysis of the childcare rebate system and childcare costs in 2004 show the fees for one child in fulltime childcare were between $200 and $300 per week, depending on the location of the centre. The maximum childcare benefit paid to families was $137 if the family income is less than $31,755 per year. A family on a combined income of $31,755 per annum in a centre charging a standard $287 per week, would need to find another $150 or more per week (or $6,000 per annum after tax income) for childcare.
á Who could afford to work? The sums talk for themselves and show clearly why couples are not having children and why parents leave the workforce after having children.
á The government policy does not allow families to choose to work. ItÕs policies force one parent to stay at home because placing children in childcare is no longer an affordable option. As costs rise and the gap increases, women with children cannot choose to return to the workforce. The Australian Government then uses that statistic to falsely claim that women want to stay at home.
á The truth is women and families no longer have an option to remain in the workforce because quality long term childcare places are neither affordable nor available.
á A modern economy such as Australia relies on the efforts and inputs of all its citizens and with the increase in education and professionalism of women, Australia cannot ignore the talents and capacities of half the potential workforce.
á As a nation we cannot afford to continue the loss of experienced workers from our workforce because they do not have access to affordable appropriate and adequate childcare. This loss is costs more than improving the childcare system in Australia.
á The childcare system in Australia has developed incrementally over time. Successive governments have promised funding and assistance at each election but none has approached the issue with a focussed State and Federal government approach that gives long term direction for future childcare and early eduction provisions.
á Childcare is funded by the Australian government and preschools by the State governments and between these two sectors it is likely that there is sufficient funding and infrastructure to provide comprehensive affordable quality early childcare services across metropolitan and country Australia.
á Most changes in recent years have been Òfiddling at the edgesÓ. We have reached the stage where governments need to work together to comprehensively review the early childhood education and care systems and plan a system that is focussed on quality affordable and accessible services for all Australian families.
BPW Australia urges the Australian government to implement a national review of childcare and preschool services and make caring for our children and sharing the workload possible for Australian families.
(ends)
640 words
For further information contact:
Kay Morrison,
Australian President
BPW Australia
(02) 66564156 / Mobile 0411 372164
Email :