Parents May Be Out of Workforce Due to Shortage in Childcare Centres

A shortage in childcare centres could force Australian parents to pay more for care or quit their jobs to look after their children.

The Federal Government reveals that it wants to ease the burden on families, but only if parliament passes the savings needed.

Mum Aimee Crane decided to get in early for her son, Oliver’s childcare, but it wasn’t until Oliver was two years old that he was offered a place.

“We put him on waitlists until he was about three or four months old.

“Some of them still haven’t offered us a position, and you actually have to pay to be on those waitlists,” she said.

Data from the government show that by 2020, the number of children needing care will increase from 1.7 million to 2 million. This means that around 300,000 childcare places are required.

Labor says the long-standing shortage is set to catapult with an extra 16,000 daycare centres needed.

Shadow Education Minister Kate Ellis said that this will have a great effect on Australian parents being part of the workforce.

“If there are not the places for Australian children, then Australian parents cannot participate in the workforce. If the services don’t exist then that is of no assistance to any Australian parent,” she said.

However, Education Minister Simon Birmingham remains confident that the government can keep up with the expected demand.

“As long as the Turnbull Government’s reforms pass through the parliament, as long as Labor gets out of the way, lets us put our childcare reforms in place.

“That means new childcare centres, new facilities will be built, new facilities will be established, new places will be available,” he said.

Source: Au.news.yahoo.com