Early learning and childcare providers have been pushed to the brink by the Delta crisis and need an urgent rescue package to remain viable and keep educators employed, according to the Parenthood.
The Parenthood Executive Director Georgie Dent said early learning services have suffered financially over the past 18 months and the extended lockdowns in greater Sydney and Melbourne is putting unsustainable pressure on services.
“The early learning and childcare situation in Greater Sydney and Melbourne right now is nothing short of a crisis,” she said today.
“Today we had reports of providers losing $120,000 per week due to waiving the gap fee and it’s simply unsustainable for them to keep absorbing these losses, maintain service and retain high-quality educators.
“Parents want the Federal Government to immediately provide an early learning and childcare rescue package for ongoing support of the sector, similar to the one introduced during the Melbourne lockdown last year. It’s vital for the ongoing sustainability of early learning and care.
“When businesses open up and parents are ready to return to work, we will need the essential services and support of our early learning and childcare services.
“Parents and the broader community can see the benefits of accessible, high-quality early learning and childcare for parents, but also for the economy, gender equality and the health and wellbeing of children.
“There’s no time to lose. The Federal Government should provide a rescue package now and start looking at ongoing funding for early education in a way that creates better outcomes for educators, children and families.”
