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Free childcare is ending on July 12th. Do you think it's too soon?

Answered 4 years ago


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ANSWER
4 years ago
Should be for free all the time

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REPLY
4 years ago
Why? So lazy ass parents can take all the available positions from people who genuinely need it so they can work and earn a living? Yeah that'd go really well

REPLY
4 years ago
^yep, I needed to return from maternity leave to my job but couldnt get a place as they arent taking new enrollments.

REPLY
4 years ago
I hope it works out for you:)

REPLY
4 years ago
No it shouldn’t be free. It should be a tax deduction for people who work though.

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4 years ago
I think it should be very cheap, and first priority for families where both parents work.

REPLY
4 years ago
The tax deduction situation doesnt help low income earners at all. If the cost of childcare is more than they pay in tax they end up worse off working and we dont want all those people quitting their jobs. It doesnt need to be free just affordable for anyone who needs it for work or study.

REPLY
4 years ago
It needs to be heavily subsidised for everyone who works or studys. If I worked I would pay more in child care than I would earn. Ironically I would be working in child care, so I stay home.

REPLY
4 years ago
Everyone should be entitled to get 2/3 days per week free childcare, not for the parents but for the children, so many kids are left behind because their parents cant afford childcare or dont work, its not fair on the kids not to have access to early childhood education.

REPLY
4 years ago
You do realise there’s a criteria that has to be met for placements, vulnerable kids first, kids of working single parents, kids of those with both working parents than those studying or looking for work than lastly those that are none of the above like SAHMs .
My twins got a priority placement for 1 day a week when they were 1 as I was a single mother and finding life difficult, it was literally for time to myself and to be able to go to counseling appointments.

When I had surgery two families lost their enrolments at our centre 5 days per week given 2 weeks notice even though they were both working, so my twins could attend. The first week of notice was before my surgery So my twins didn’t attend that week, the week after my surgery I think they relied on children being absent. This went on for 8 wks and they got their placements back.
When I started working, as a single parent I got priority for the 3 days I needed care for, I only waited 3 wks for placements.
Saved me!

REPLY
4 years ago
Yes we are aware there is a priority system, its not always followed correctly though. But this particular conversation is about costs. The costs are so much that many families with 2 or more kids are priced out of the second parent working. Often its those in jobs like pharmacy, nursing etc that we need to be working!

ANSWER
4 years ago
Not for free
Tax payers paying

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REPLY
4 years ago
🥳

REPLY
4 years ago
And we pay tax so can't we access the bonuses? Or is it only foreign countries we assist and not our own Aussie families???

REPLY
4 years ago
Well no one was paying that was the problem.

REPLY
4 years ago
childcare for workers increases money the government gets back overall.

REPLY
4 years ago
^correct, under normal circumstances its 1.6$ for every dollar spent.

ANSWER
4 years ago
No because if you’re working like you were before you can pay like you did before

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REPLY
4 years ago
Exactly! This is why i don't understand why they made it free or need to keep making it free! Your kid is in childcare because you are working, so you can afford to pay. If you aren't working and you can't affird to pay, then you can look after your kid!

REPLY
4 years ago
I’m a little confused that you are confused? People were pulling their kids out in droves, so they had to make it free to have those parents return after. Whether one should pay if they can is where I agree

REPLY
4 years ago
Exactly ^
They were not doing it for the parents but rather to keep centres open. If you have 50% of the kids pulled out it makes it harder for centres to remain open between insurances, pay, rents, electricity, etc.

REPLY
4 years ago
So if you can afford it you should have paid..... so everyone else can sponge off the taxpayer.

People who struggle expect everything for free. Im sick and tired of the poor me attitude on this board. Only the poor and struggling get a break on here.

If you're going well then you're expected to cover for everyone else. Why? because you've spent time getting an education. worked hard at building a career and juggled family and children as well. Lived within your means including have children you can afford.

I'd love to have more children and live off benefits and whinge about everything.

The truth is when life gets hard and tough you got to do what you need to do and not rely on others to keep you afloat

REPLY
4 years ago
^ Have you finished sooking? I'm sure MOST people don't put themselves in a 'poor me' situation deliberately. I pay taxes, alot of taxes and I don't need helping people in need. You need to get the fuck over yourself

REPLY
4 years ago
I agree you shouldnt plan your life around relying on others but this is an unexpected pandemic and heaps of people have had unexpected and probably illegal pay cuts. The work places dont even cut your hours they cut your pay so you still have to cover same number of hours of osch.

REPLY
4 years ago
Just because you are working doesnt mean you can afford it because heaps of people got huge pay cuts, sometimes both partners, but the workplace still expects you to be at work just pays you less.

REPLY
4 years ago
The problem with the argument is a big one. The taxes that rich people pay is absolute crap here, particularly if you look internationally. How someone on 180k can be taxed 30percent is sickening. In most countries tax is much higher.. so if you are going to start with that then it really shows how little idea you have

REPLY
4 years ago
I say that from having experienced both sides of the spectrum. INot to mention that the richer you are, means the more access to education, making more money, getting out of more tax and being more greedy. I think it’s sad that you can honestly think people expect to be looked after

REPLY
4 years ago
^ Depends on the person. Lots have had bad luck in life but there are a few who are just plain lazy.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I’m thankful the next lot of school holidays are covered. My kids OSHC charge 50% up front for their vacation program. Regardless of what % CCS you get. It’s a lot of money to pay a couple of weeks in advance. Yes, my account is credited the difference at the end, but if each day cost between $60 - $90 a day per child, that is a lot of money. I have 3 kids, so it’s between 1,800 - 2,700 for the 2 weeks. For some people to have to come up with 900 - 1,350 that’s a lot of money.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Bit late for that now that they're here

REPLY
4 years ago
Not here yet in WA. We have a few more weeks

ANSWER
4 years ago
No. I don't think child care should ever have been free. If you have kids you look after them yourself or pay others to if you don't want to do it yourself

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REPLY
4 years ago
So you're saying that parents who put their kids in daycare are because they don't WANT to look after them? What a stupid thing to say

REPLY
4 years ago
^ 👍👍

REPLY
4 years ago
Either they don't want to or they can't and think a centre will do a better job than them. Or both.
I don't want to , nor do I know how to fix my car... so I PAY a mechanic to do it for me. I don't expect them to to it for free. Yes it would be lovely if the government would pay for my car to be fixed but I chose to have a car so I either fix it myself or PAY for someone else to fix it for me.

REPLY
4 years ago
I assume you dont accept a single cent of taxpayers money that us working mums earned, right?

REPLY
4 years ago
I think all these types of services should be socialized

REPLY
4 years ago
I feel sorry for the daycare people and though I wish it was free financially for me, the last thing I want is a financially stressed child centre looking after my kids. I want my child’s caregivers to be looked after so they can look after my kids well. This is such a messy situation, as usual it is never so black and white

REPLY
4 years ago
I don’t know how to perform open heart surgery either but the government still use tax payer money if I need it.

REPLY
4 years ago
The governement wont pay for your car no but they do subsidise public transport

REPLY
4 years ago
The op of this reply.

I believe you ate either
A: uneducated or
B: just dumb

God forbid you get sick, and the doctor/surgeon that can help you decides to stay home with her kids rather than come to work!

Idiot!

ANSWER
4 years ago
It needs to end, but it's difficult for parents who are reminded how difficult it is to keep paying these fees.

I think this highlights that the system needs changing. Where we live, someone told me recently their child care gap fees are more expensive than the elite private school their kids are going to attend. How can that be right??

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REPLY
4 years ago
its way too expensive and the govt needs to sort that out.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Being free for a short time doesn't bother me. What bothers me and alot of hard working tax payers is the fact that people were able to take advantage of the situation purely for their own selfish needs. There should have been a criteria to meet rather than ' I can't be bothered with my kids'

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REPLY
4 years ago
I honestly haven’t noticed parents doing this- are they really? Though the truth is ..i don’t really have friends so I wouldn’t know.. I for one am not doing this.

REPLY
4 years ago
💖

REPLY
4 years ago
Ive heard from childcare workers people who werent even working upped their days because it was free. meanwhile people who were working couldnt get extra days even if they needed them because htey could no longer get help from grandparents.

REPLY
4 years ago
Selfish lazy parenting at it's finest

ANSWER
4 years ago
All good things must come to an end

ANSWER
4 years ago
I get why they did it. One of the reasons is lots of grandparents looked after kids but that wasn't safe so they needed those workers to continue working. It was to protect the grandparents and keep the jobs. But it should have only been free for those who prove they could no longer do such an arrangement and needed it for work. Not for randoms who just want a day so they can watch Netflix (I know somebody who does this).

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REPLY
4 years ago
They didn't have time to make things complicated. They had to act quickly so they just went with a blanket response.

REPLY
4 years ago
Yes, unfortunately, I know someone who proudly does the Netflix thing too.

It's better for her children though, as at home there's almost no interaction. They've never even read their kids a book. It makes me sad and angry.

ANSWER
4 years ago
It never had anything to do with helping families. It was to save centres after everyone pulled their kids out.

Of course I love free kindy & the massive relief on our budget, but it can't continue. On the bright side, centres are not allowed to increase fees until the extra subsidies (replacing Jobkeeker) finish. Some have indicated they will.

I don't think we'll know if they've closed the parachute mid jump until fees kick in. It'll be fine for high demand areas with waiting lists. In our area there's an oversupply of places & high unemployment so I think they'll struggle. DD's centre is taking new kids - I assume to try & fill places for when fees return.

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REPLY
4 years ago
Really i just wont send my kid back to preschool then. Fees go up I'm out.

REPLY
4 years ago
I'm.not saying they will. I've just heard some have threatened to. Could be hot air. They know people will cut back if they do.

ANSWER
4 years ago
No. I've been trying to get a job but with this scheme going no centres would put on our son full-time so we've had to ride it out until they stopped this whole free thing.

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REPLY
4 years ago
So many families decided all of a sudden utilise daycare once it became free.

REPLY
4 years ago
Yep same, trying to return to an actual job from maternity leave. I work for an essential service too!

ANSWER
4 years ago
Nope shouldnt have been free at all

ANSWER
4 years ago
The pandemic will be less of an issue by then and most people back in the office so yes it should end.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Not too soon. My children’s centre is struggling to stay afloat at the moment. I wish we could choose to pay if we could afford to. We would have happily kept paying as we were very lucky to be unaffected financially from COVID.