Editorial: Governments must step in for childcare

EDITORIAL: While governments have their hands full trying to fight the war against COVID-19, there are pinch points that remain unsolved – such as daycare.

Director of Play & Learn Centre in Warrane Jackie Hughes, front, with staff members and children in their care. There is increasing pressure on the childcare sector due to the COVID-19 crisis. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

PARENTS of young children and operators of childcare centres have been left in a hopeless situation as they are caught up in the coronavirus crisis.

While both state and federal governments understandably have their hands full trying to fight the war against COVID-19 on two fronts — public health and saving the economy — there are pinch points that remain unsolved.

School closures dominated the debate last week with parents agonising over whether or not to send their children to class and government balancing keeping open facilities for those who need it with public demand to enforce further lockdown measures.

Premier Peter Gutwein last week decided he would keep schools open to the kids of essential workers and those who needed it but asked parents who could to keep their children home.

He’s been very clear in his advice to all Tasmanians — stay home and safe lives.

It was the right move but it posed problems for parents with children in daycare, the funding of which is a Federal Government responsibility.

CHILDCARE CENTRE ON VERGE OF ‘TOTAL COLLAPSE’

Parents are given a subsidy by the Federal Government for daycare, however if the child misses a certain number of days, the government will no longer pay the subsidy on days the child doesn’t attend, meaning parents have to fork out more money for a service they are not using. The government increased the number of days but families are still being caught short.

The other option families have is to fully withdraw their child, which risks the parent losing the daycare position when life returns to normal.

Most families are now facing financial uncertainty due to the economic fallout of coronavirus and the daycare debacle is squeezing them further.

Mr Gutwein said the National Cabinet would discuss childcare on Friday. But that’s a long way away for centres buckling under the pressure of having up to 90 per cent of children absent or withdrawn. Childcare centres are not eligible to receive the Federal Government child care subsidy if they lose enrolments and choose to close.

There will be centres that simply won’t recover from this crisis should the government not step in and offer some solutions, including either shutting the centres or at least ensuring that these facilities continue to receive the child care subsidy even when children are withdrawn as their parents follow the advice to keep them home.

The workers of these centres deserve better too.

They put their own health and safety needs last to turn up and pour their heart and souls into caring for the children of working parents — and often do so on low pay.

They need clarity and they need it quickly.

There are myriad issues for governments to unpack during these unprecedented times.

But, any uncertainty about such a crucial service equates to huge stress for parents, these business owners and their workers — ultimately impacting either productivity or the hip-pocket of hardworking families already anxious about the future.