Boosting community childcare

The Victorian Greens have launched a plan that would invest $100 million in community-run childcare, undertake an urgent review of the sector, and ensure that future growth of children’s centres includes a stronger focus on community and government-run services.

Families in the south-eastern suburbs typically pay between $100 and $125 per day for childcare.

According to the annual Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, between 2002 and 2016 weekly childcare costs have increased by 119 percent for couple families and 133 percent for single parent families.

The plan would also focus on meeting the needs of Melbourne’s biggest growth areas, for example Cranbourne East and Clyde.

It would also invest $10 million to scale up bush kinder around the state, supporting more services to deliver preschool programs in natural environments.

“Access to high quality and affordable childcare is a huge issue for young families in the south-east,” Greens MP for South Eastern Metropolitan Region Nina Springle said.

“We all want the best for our kids and investing in community-run childcare will provide more families with this.”