Family pain: Free childcare coming to an end

Mackay families will once again pay childcare fees as the free childcare scheme draws to a close

Mackay Cubbie House Childcare Centre nominated supervisor Noreen McNamara with Hunter, 3 and Jayda Grubb, 1. Picture: Tony Martin

MACKAY household budgets may soon feel the pinch of childcare fees again when the government ditches free childcare next month.

Federal education minister Dan Tehan said Australia’s free childcare program would finish on July 12 with JobKeeper payments for child care workers ending July 20.

Mackay Cubbie House nominated supervisor Noreen McNamara welcomed the news.

“It means we can go back to normality and we can start making a normal wage again,” Ms McNamara said.

“We’ve got really good families here and they were buying us pizzas and stuff because they knew we were taking a pay cut.”

More stories:

Parents can’t afford fees, childcare providers warn

Flashback: Schools camp in the outdoors

More teachers, students in our region’s state schools

Mackay mum-of-four Danielle Sharpe said free childcare ending was “great news” for her family.

“The childcare centre we use has high ratings and the quality of care is amazing,” Mrs Sharpe said.

“The ‘free childcare’ initiative meant our centre has been running at a loss these past few months.

“I’m happy to start paying again so we can keep staff in their jobs and continue the quality of care we are used to receiving.”

But Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said the scheme’s end would negatively impact female small business owners.

“This could force mothers out of their jobs, which is detrimental to working families and even worse for the economy,” Ms Carnell said.

Mr Tehan said a $708 million support package would protect childcare staff moving off JobKeeper payments.

Subscriber benefits:

How to make the most of your digital subscription

Daily puzzles and Sudoku another reason to stay subscribed

Criteria for families accessing subsidised childcare also will be eased until October 4 to support those impacted by COVID-19, Mr Tehan said.

“These families will receive up to 100 hours per fortnight of subsidised care during this period,” he said.

Originally published as