United Voice News
Reforming childcare - Transparency must improve
LHMU – The childcare union says today's Hobart roundtable discussion on childcare is a timely opportunity for major players in Tasmania’s childcare sector to discuss national childcare reform from a Tasmanian point of view.
The roundtable discussion is a public hearings held by the Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ as part of its Inquiry into the Provison of Childcare.
David O’Byrne, Secretary, Tasmanian Branch, LHMU is representing Tasmania’s childcare professionals at the hearing.
"Tasmania has an unprecedented opportunity to finally bring childcare into the 21st century because of the current coooperation by State, Federal and Territory governments on early childcare education and care," says David O’Byrne.
"This roundtable is the first time key stakeholders in Tasmania’s childcare sector will get together to talk about how best to meet the childcare needs of Tasmanian families since the Council of Australian Government announced the first national childcare strategy on 2 July.
"Recent events in Tasmania have heightened the need for greater transparency in this essential social, education and economic infrastructure.
"It should not be forgotten that the sector is a major beneficiary of government support and as such it must be accountable to government and to the community. Everybody at the roundtable has a responsibility on this count.
"Childcare professionals, who continue to bear the brunt of the crisis in provision of childcare, welcome the new national childcare stratey as a step in the right direction. The proposed options for reforms in early childcare education and care are consistent with our BIG STEPS in childcare campaign to reform the sector," says David O’Byrne.
