NEW CHILDCARE COMMISSION REQUIRED TO ADDRESS UNSCRUPULOUS PROVIDERS THAT PUT PROFIT BEFORE CHILDREN

Early childhood education and care advocates have called for an early childhood education and care commission with the power to weed out unscrupulous operators that put profit before children.

“The shocking mistreatment of children and educators exposed in an ABC Four Corners story earlier this month represent some of the most extreme failures of our profit-driven childcare system and demonstrate the need for a new approach,” said The Parenthood’s CEO Georgie Dent.

“Australia has world-leading quality standards in the National Quality Framework and educators who go above and beyond to support and educate the young children in their care. However, there is a need for significant reform in early learning funding, regulatory standards and governance.

“The Parenthood is calling for the Federal Government to take greater leadership of the early childhood education and care system and use the billions of dollars each year it invests through their Child Care Subsidy as a lever to drive quality.

“It is imperative that the Commonwealth government and the states and territories work together to send a clear message that quality is non-negotiable.

“The Commonwealth Government should establish a new, jointly governed national ECEC Commission to provide assertive and consistent leadership and regulation across the sector to weed out ruthless operators who do not put the best interests of children first and to be responsible for developing a universal system.

“A commission, as recommended by the Productivity Commission, must work with the states and territories to ensure services deliver quality education and care.

“The Parenthood is further calling for funding reforms to address excess profits in early childhood education and care, and to drive quality in the system.

“Funding the system through the current Child Care Subsidy arrangements is effectively a blank cheque for unscrupulous providers who choose to profit at the expense of quality education and care of children.

“By moving to a fixed fee model where parents pay no more than $10 a day, we can ensure early childhood education and care is affordable for families, address excess profits and drive quality.

“These changes must be legislated.

“The Parenthood has endorsed a draft bill prepared by the Thrive by Five campaign. This bill should be introduced into the Parliament and passed as soon as possible.”