05 DecELAA Joins Sector Partners in Call for Amended Jobs for Families Child Care Package
ELAA has joined 20 other early learning sector organisations in writing to Greens and cross-bench Senators urging them to support an amended version of the Federal Government’sJobs for Familieschild care assistance package.
The letters underline cross-sectoral support for many aspects of the proposed child care assistance package, including:
- increased investment in early learning
- streamlining of current subsidies (Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate)
- child Care Safety Net programs for children with additional needs.
However, the sector is also calling for amendments to the package to better reflect the benefits for children of quality early learning:
- an increased base entitlement of subsidised hours and a raised income threshold for the base entitlement
- an increased base entitlement to subsidised hours specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and a specialised program to support otherwise unviable services
- activity test and subsidy approval processes that are flexible to accommodate the needs of families.
The letters also state that the package should not be conditional on the Government making savings from proposed cuts to Family Tax Benefits that would adversely impact disadvantaged families.
The Jobs for Families legislation was reintroduced to Parliament in September and is expected to be before the Senate very soon.
