The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Care and Youth
18 June, 2009
Media Release
Families set to be better informed under new child care closure requirements
The Australian Government will tighten requirements to ensure that child care providers write to parents to inform them of a decision to close a centre.
The Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Kate Ellis, said that the changes will flow from the Family Legislation Amendment (Child Care) Bill which passed the Senate today.
As a consequence, operators who are planning on closing their child care operations will have to provide 30 days notice to parents and supply evidence to the Government that they have done so.
In the unfortunate instance where a child care provider makes the decision to close a service – it is critical that families are informed immediately so they can arrange alternative means of care.
The 800,000 families who rely on child care around Australia will now be better informed when it comes to decisions regarding the future of their child care.
This Government is committed to accessible, affordable, high quality care for Australian children, their parents and carers.
We are investing $12.8 billion over the next four years to help Australian families with the cost of child care.
The Government is also committed to providing high quality information to parents about child care services and their fees on the my child website www.mychild.gov.au
Providing greater information to parents is part of the Government’s comprehensive plan to deliver quality and accessible for Australian children and to ensure that the child care services market becomes more transparent