Mrs BRAHAM - 1996-05-23
The Territory has the youngest population in Australia, and child care is an important issue for many families. I wrote to the minister recently, requesting a review of some of the child-care provisions. Have there been any recent developments in child-care provisions and, if so, what are the benefits these would obviously bring to Territory families?
ANSWER
Mr Speaker, probably the most comprehensive review of child care, right across the board in all of its forms, is being undertaken by the government at the moment. We trust that, before long, we will have all the details of that comprehensive approach. Obviously, the CLP government recognises that, in the Territory context, child care is probably even more important than it is elsewhere in the country. We have far higher participation rates in the work force, and certainly far higher participation by women. Parents are often isolated from their extended family support mechanisms - that is, their own parents, grandparents etc - and the needs here are far more significant, particularly if we look at areas of population growth such as Palmerston.
Mr Coulter: Especially Palmerston.
Mr FINCH: Not especially Palmerston, but including Palmerston. The needs are quite significant.
In the meantime, in addition to those programs - some of which are joint Commonwealth/Territory programs - which will provide 600-odd more places over the next 3 or 4 years, we have introduced 2 initiatives immediately as a government. In the case of family day care, there has been a fair bit of lobbying and discussion with the industry and we have agreed to change the definition of child care under section 82 of the Community Welfare Act which limits the number of children that family day carers can have. That number will be
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increased by one, through amendments to that legislation. That will bring an additional capacity of some 250 places, we believe.
Ms Martin: For what ages?
Mr FINCH: This is for the under-5s.
Ms Martin: Not under 2?
Mr FINCH: No, this is in family day care. They have a maximum number of 4 at present. It will be increased to 5. That is a significant increase. The option will not be taken up by all family day carers, but we understand from the industry that it will bring 250 more places across the Territory. Secondly, by amending the child-care regulations ...
Mr Bailey: You are raising the ratio of kids to carers.
Mr FINCH: That is one initiative. That is what the family day care people have been requesting. In fact, under the industry's guidelines, carers have the capacity to increase that number now. It is simply that they are limited by the legislation's definition of what a formal day care centre is. We are lifting the cap on that to accommodate what they can do already under their own guidelines but were constrained from doing by the legislation.
Secondly, a move to the national standard will bring more than 300 places. Historically, in terms of indoor and outdoor place/space requirements, the Northern Territory standard has been above what is being introduced now as the national standard. It is seen that the national standard is fair and reasonable and ought to be adopted by the Northern Territory for all of our child care centres. That will bring an additional capacity of approximately 20%, in each existing child care centre, notwithstanding that the staffing ratios will still demand additional staff. It is not a matter of crowding more kids into the same regime. That cannot happen. In fact, most Territory child care centres are well and truly above the national standard, particularly in terms of outdoor play areas. The shaded, open-air concept prevails strongly here.
Those 2 initiatives together will bring an additional 560 places. Because this is the only state or territory that funds private day care people through a subsidy, these moves will cost the government some $1.3m over 5 years. I welcome the interest of the member for Braitling. This is good news for Territorian parents, and there will be more good news ahead in the outcomes of the overall 5-year strategy when it is finalised.
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ANSWER
Mr Speaker, probably the most comprehensive review of child care, right across the board in all of its forms, is being undertaken by the government at the moment. We trust that, before long, we will have all the details of that comprehensive approach. Obviously, the CLP government recognises that, in the Territory context, child care is probably even more important than it is elsewhere in the country. We have far higher participation rates in the work force, and certainly far higher participation by women. Parents are often isolated from their extended family support mechanisms - that is, their own parents, grandparents etc - and the needs here are far more significant, particularly if we look at areas of population growth such as Palmerston.
Mr Coulter: Especially Palmerston.
Mr FINCH: Not especially Palmerston, but including Palmerston. The needs are quite significant.
In the meantime, in addition to those programs - some of which are joint Commonwealth/Territory programs - which will provide 600-odd more places over the next 3 or 4 years, we have introduced 2 initiatives immediately as a government. In the case of family day care, there has been a fair bit of lobbying and discussion with the industry and we have agreed to change the definition of child care under section 82 of the Community Welfare Act which limits the number of children that family day carers can have. That number will be
Page 1417
increased by one, through amendments to that legislation. That will bring an additional capacity of some 250 places, we believe.
Ms Martin: For what ages?
Mr FINCH: This is for the under-5s.
Ms Martin: Not under 2?
Mr FINCH: No, this is in family day care. They have a maximum number of 4 at present. It will be increased to 5. That is a significant increase. The option will not be taken up by all family day carers, but we understand from the industry that it will bring 250 more places across the Territory. Secondly, by amending the child-care regulations ...
Mr Bailey: You are raising the ratio of kids to carers.
Mr FINCH: That is one initiative. That is what the family day care people have been requesting. In fact, under the industry's guidelines, carers have the capacity to increase that number now. It is simply that they are limited by the legislation's definition of what a formal day care centre is. We are lifting the cap on that to accommodate what they can do already under their own guidelines but were constrained from doing by the legislation.
Secondly, a move to the national standard will bring more than 300 places. Historically, in terms of indoor and outdoor place/space requirements, the Northern Territory standard has been above what is being introduced now as the national standard. It is seen that the national standard is fair and reasonable and ought to be adopted by the Northern Territory for all of our child care centres. That will bring an additional capacity of approximately 20%, in each existing child care centre, notwithstanding that the staffing ratios will still demand additional staff. It is not a matter of crowding more kids into the same regime. That cannot happen. In fact, most Territory child care centres are well and truly above the national standard, particularly in terms of outdoor play areas. The shaded, open-air concept prevails strongly here.
Those 2 initiatives together will bring an additional 560 places. Because this is the only state or territory that funds private day care people through a subsidy, these moves will cost the government some $1.3m over 5 years. I welcome the interest of the member for Braitling. This is good news for Territorian parents, and there will be more good news ahead in the outcomes of the overall 5-year strategy when it is finalised.
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Last updated: 09 Aug 2016