❓ Question regarding access to the Goldfields District Resource Centre for childcare centres and the rationale behind restricting access, particularly concerning children with disabilities and pre-primary school access. The Minister confirms the decision and provides justification based on cost and GST advantages.
AnsweredQoN 784Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
784. Ms ANWYL to the Minister for Education:
(1) Is the Minister aware that the Goldfields Education District Office wrote to a range of non-profit childcare centres and service providers on 2 August 2000, advising that they would no longer be able to access the Goldfields District Resource Centre?
(2) Does the Minister agree with this decision?
(3) Is the Minister aware that the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit, which caters for children with disabilities, uses this service?
(4) Which other services use the Resource Centre?
(5) Is the Minister aware that a large number of children will not be able to access pre-primary school next year due to changes in age restrictions for entrance to school?
(6) What is the cost of providing these services to childcare centres?
(7) What is the rationale for this decision?
(8) Will the Minister reverse this decision?
(1) Is the Minister aware that the Goldfields Education District Office wrote to a range of non-profit childcare centres and service providers on 2 August 2000, advising that they would no longer be able to access the Goldfields District Resource Centre?
(2) Does the Minister agree with this decision?
(3) Is the Minister aware that the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit, which caters for children with disabilities, uses this service?
(4) Which other services use the Resource Centre?
(5) Is the Minister aware that a large number of children will not be able to access pre-primary school next year due to changes in age restrictions for entrance to school?
(6) What is the cost of providing these services to childcare centres?
(7) What is the rationale for this decision?
(8) Will the Minister reverse this decision?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2000
Response time
42 days
The Minister Replied:
(1) Yes.
(2) Yes.
(3) Yes. However, the Unit had not used the service since May of last year.
(4) Apart from schools, the Kalgoorlie Creche, the Playhouse Child Care Centre and the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit, there were 123 other groups including hotels, supermarkets, businesses and mining companies, using the service.
(5) In 2001, children entering pre-primary programs will not be affected. Those children turning 4 during the first half of 2001 will be guaranteed a four session kindergarten program in a government school or community kindergarten.
(6-8) Child care centres were paying a contribution of $30 annually to use the centre. The cost to a small school in Kalgoorlie is $605. Schools were therefore subsidising other users. In addition, the centre was in active competition with other providers. Following the introduction of the GST from 1 July and with the centre serving only the district's schools, it can now be classified as a non-profit library, with commensurate GST advantages.
The Boulder Kids Corner and the Goldfields Family Day Care Scheme did not renew their membership in 1999. The other three playgroups including the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit had used the centre infrequently.
If the child care centres experience disadvantage as a result of this decision, the matter will be reconsidered by the District Education Office.
(1) Yes.
(2) Yes.
(3) Yes. However, the Unit had not used the service since May of last year.
(4) Apart from schools, the Kalgoorlie Creche, the Playhouse Child Care Centre and the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit, there were 123 other groups including hotels, supermarkets, businesses and mining companies, using the service.
(5) In 2001, children entering pre-primary programs will not be affected. Those children turning 4 during the first half of 2001 will be guaranteed a four session kindergarten program in a government school or community kindergarten.
(6-8) Child care centres were paying a contribution of $30 annually to use the centre. The cost to a small school in Kalgoorlie is $605. Schools were therefore subsidising other users. In addition, the centre was in active competition with other providers. Following the introduction of the GST from 1 July and with the centre serving only the district's schools, it can now be classified as a non-profit library, with commensurate GST advantages.
The Boulder Kids Corner and the Goldfields Family Day Care Scheme did not renew their membership in 1999. The other three playgroups including the Goldfields Children's Inclusion Unit had used the centre infrequently.
If the child care centres experience disadvantage as a result of this decision, the matter will be reconsidered by the District Education Office.
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