❓ The WA government acknowledges the childcare shortage in rural areas and is developing flexible regulations for small and single-staff centres, aiming to maintain high standards and attract Child Care Benefit support. They are also considering recommendations from a review and collaborating with the federal government to establish new facilities.
AnsweredQoN 294Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
CHILDCARE FACILITIES — RURAL AND REGIONAL WESTERN AUSTRALIA
I refer to the severe lack of childcare facilities in many areas of rural and regional Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware of the critical childcare situation in country Western Australia? (2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST
I refer to the severe lack of childcare facilities in many areas of rural and regional Western Australia. (1) Is the minister aware of the critical childcare situation in country Western Australia? (2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(1) Is the minister aware of the critical childcare situation in country Western Australia? (2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(1) Is the minister aware of the critical childcare situation in country Western Australia? (2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(2) Will the minister propose any new initiatives or regulatory changes to give more flexibility to country childcare centres? (3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(3) If yes to (2), when will these initiatives be announced; and, if no to (2), why not? Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
Hon KATE DOUST replied: On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
On behalf of the Minister for Communities, I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. (1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(1)-(2) Yes. (3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
(3) The Department for Communities has been developing new regulations, particularly for small rural and remote centres. A small rural model and a single staff centre model have been developed from the consultation process undertaken with country-based providers. The models will provide flexibility whilst maintaining high standards. These regulations are being drafted and the Department for Communities has worked with the commonwealth government to ensure that the new models will attract Child Care Benefit support—a key issue for parents and carers. Separately, the Child Care Regulations Consultative Committee provided me with a report on the children’s services regulations review on 19 February 2008. I am currently considering the recommendations of that report and expect announcements of new initiatives to follow. The state government is actively working with the federal government on the Council of Australian Governments productivity and participation agenda, which will include the establishment of up to 25 new childcare facilities on school and TAFE sites in Western Australia.
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