'Every child should have three days of childcare a week'

A report commissioned by the federal government has called for every child under the age of five to access at least three days of childcare each week, and recommended an increase to the childcare subsidy.

A report requested by the Federal Labor Government has called for every child in Australia under the age of five to access at least three days of childcare each week, regardless of their parents’ work and income circumstances.

The report from the Productivity Commission comes after Labor tasked the commission with investigating the design of an affordable, university early education system in February, which could include a universal 90 per cent subsidy rate to families for fees.

The Guardianreports the first draft report urges the government to ensure all children were able to access at least three days of childcare a week.

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“The system can only be universal if every child is welcome,” commissioner Martin Stokie said.

“The Australian government should increase funding to enable the inclusion of all children regardless of their ability or cultural background.”

Associate commissioner Deborah Brennan said a child’s entitlement to childcare should not be impacted by how much their parents work.

“Providing further support for lower-income families will ensure that cost does not prevent children from accessing education and care.”

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The commission's report recommended every child under the age of five access at least three days of childcare per week. Picture: iStock

The Guardian reports Labor’s childcare changes, which came into effect in July 2023, increased the childcare subsidy to 90 per cent for families with an annual income of less than $80,000.

However, the Productivity Commission recommended raising the maximum subsidy to 100 per cent for families on incomes less than $80,000, which the commission said was about 30 per cent of all families with young children.

The report also recommended relaxing the activity test so it does not present as a barrier to accessing care.

The report found children experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability were more likely to benefit from childcare, but least likely to attend.

The Guardian reports children with a disability, and those from diverse cultural backgrounds, are not supported effectively by the government to access childcare services, the report found.

Many services were not flexible enough or accommodating enough to meet the needs of those children and their families.

The commission’s report also said universal childcare could not be achieved until the “critical demand for educators, early childhood teachers, centre directors and other ECEC workers” was addressed.

The Productivity Commission’s final report will be handed to the federal government by the end of June, 2024.

Originally published as 'Every child should have three days of childcare a week'