[~Delilah~]

http://www.news.com.au/money/federal-budge...m-1226346302653

I don't see a whole lot of difference between this and the 2006 change. The question still remains - where are the jobs and childcare/BSC/ASC places coming from?

[tamjk]

That's something I would like to know too, given there are NO places locally for my DS apart from one centre which has a reputation for being consistently 5 or more children OVER ratio. The time I went in there to check the place out I counted three more children in the room they were planning to put him in than was supposed to be there.

So there are NO vacancies for childcare in my area and a VERY high percentage of single unemployed parents. That's going to make life 'interesting' for families!

Not that these changes effect me at this point in time. I'm not a single parent and we're not currently eligible for assistance beyond the base rate of FTB. Given my husband works in a high risk job though, the possibility of my becoming an unexpected single parent is a lot higher than I would like.

[belindarama]

Why do childcare places matter? The policy kicks in once the youngest turns 8.

Before and after school care places are relevant. We have plenty of capacity at our school. Are there are a lot of shortages?

[Lausii]

About time. No longer a single parent, but when I was I always worked. But I have never had issues finding childcare, some areas they are advertising for children. I have received three flyers the past week from local childcare centres.

[macaroon]

This is coming from a person who was a single parent of 2 for almost 4 years: I think the changes are necessary.

And in our area there are plenty of before and after school care places not to mention FDC that do after and before school.

It's one thing to be compassionate and ensure a safety net. It's another to promote an inter-generational welfare cycle. The government was being too generous and it was too easy to just stay on welfare rather than work. I can say this as I was part of the system- it promotes an anti-work and anti- personal betterment attitude in many people.
Many people with partners have the same child care needs. My partner works ungodly hours and we face the same issues finding after and before school care.

With that said it's not a cut and dry situation. People will need to be trained and they should include TAFE or uni as meeting a work requirement.

This post has been edited by Leonie_P: 04/05/2012, 07:23 AM

[macaroon]

I agree PINY. 6 would be a better age.

[Nora.]

Why are people talking about child care? It is completely irrelevant to this thread.

[macaroon]

Nora:- Because the OP bought it up as a "barrier" to these changes being successfully implemented. Grasping at straws methinks.



This post has been edited by Leonie_P: 04/05/2012, 07:31 AM

[~Delilah~]

Childcare also includes vacation care during school holidays.

[threelittlegems]

I don't know about this TBH. On one hand whilst we plan on having a parent stay home with our kids if we were to divorce this would have to end and both of us would have to get on with it - not what we want clearly but when circumstances change your plans can change.

However why is it only single parents? Why aren't all parents on welfare having payments cut when their child is 8 - or does rid happen anyway?

I think the article said that if you had a partner, payments would cut out at 6. For single parents, it is 8.