Labor backs $10m childcare boost, after-school care centre builds

A Labor government would build or upgrade another 20 before and after school care centres to assist families with childcare, Labor leader Dean Winter said.

Labor says it will boost funding to the childcare sector.

A Labor government would build or upgrade another 20 before and after-school care centres to assist families with childcare, Labor leader Dean Winter said.

Visiting a Blackmans Bay childcare centre on Thursday, Mr Winter said Labor would double present funding to $20m over two years.

“This is a policy which will unlock at least 20 new before and after-school centres across Tasmania in areas that really need them,” he said.

“Everywhere I go in this state, I talk to people who just can’t get access to the daycare or the before and after school care they need.

Labor leader Dean Winter announces a $10m election commitment to childcare. Picture: supplied

“We’re talking about early education here. These are institutions that don’t just look after kids — they get them ready for school.

Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years Sarah Lovell said backing more childcare places was good for children and their families.

“We know that there are many families who have had to make tough decisions about not being able to work as much as they could or as much as they would like to, because they simply can’t access quality care for their children before and after school,” she said.

“Not only is this a good policy for children and providing it quality education and care, but it is a great economic policy because it will allow families to contribute to the economy to the extent that they can.”

Labor childcare policy pix.

Fiona Felmingham from not-for-profit provider Adventure Patch said the policy would help deliver more places for families and also improve the quality of care facilities.

“We would love to see this funding come into place. It will allow us to not only expand existing services, but to open new services as well,” she said.

“A lot of our outside school healthcare facilities need to have upgrades: we need new toilets, we need lighting, we need painting.

“Currently we operate services in multi-function rooms or school halls, so we have to pack up and set up each day, each time there’s a session.

“It would be great to have a more permanent facility so that we can offer a greater variety of activities for the children.”

Originally published as Labor backs $10m childcare boost, after-school care centre builds