That word - " Childcare " - means different things to different people. Sixty-five years ago it probably meant asking Grandma to look after the little ones while a woman did her grocery shopping, or sometimes having the nice lady next door keep an eye on the children while mother did a few errands.
Childcare went hand in hand with the emancipation of women in the work force. Australian society morphed from wives serving as " homemakers " to the start of the two salary family which initially got their feet on the rungs of the home ownership ladder more quickly and then became envied because they enjoyed holidays that were out of reach for the rest of the herd.
Today - the word " married couple " has been replaced by the word "partnership " and it is absolutely essential that both contribute to the financial pool that results in eventual home ownership and the accumulation of assets towards a comfortable retirement. The problem is fitting having and caring for children in that work mix - and that has been gradually absorbed within what is called the childcare "National quality framework " !
Federal, State and even local government regulations govern what this industry provides and it is fast devolving from a industry tasked with "child minding " into what is now regarded as the field of "early education " - and the people employed in that capacity need qualifications that are just as rigorous as the school teaching professions.
From January 1 of this new year the childcare industry will be required to adjust it's workforce to meet new regulations. The staff ratio has been adjusted to require one qualified person for every five toddlers between the age of two and three in care, and this replaces a requirement of one worker for every eight toddlers.
There is a degree of panic by all those using childcare services. Obviously the industry will need to add to it's workforce numbers and this will have an impact on the cost of running such centres. It is anticipated that fees will rise by an average of five dollars a day.
Childcare costs are deep in the mix of government subsidies balanced against the needs of lower paid jobs and the affordability that goes with working women and the hours that childcare provides. It is still an industry heavily yoked to that old nine to five, five days a week work syndrome. A few centres are moving towards longer hours and trying to balance towards the 24/7 work cycle but getting a place in a childcare centre close to home is an ongoing battle.
There seems no doubt that this mix of costs and shortage of supply has created a shadow industry which is quietly bubbling away out of sight. The law of supply and demand ensures that there is an unregulated arrangement in place whereby children are being accommodated in private homes by unqualified carers - who charge for that service.
The danger is that as childcare as a regulated industry strives for added levels of professionalism and refines it's rules both the cost and number of places available close out lower paid workers and enhance the number of shadow operators offering. There seems an uncertain line between the merits of "child minding " and "child education " that will not be apparent to those who have children and also need a job to financially survive !
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