WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY KEY TO CHILDCARE

31-July-2009

Australian parents, especially men, are taking advantage of flexible workplace arrangements and conditions in order to care for their children according to a new Report form the ABS, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education and Childcare Sophie Mirabella said today.

 “43% of all working fathers in 2008 reported utilising flexible workplace conditions in order to organise childcare – that’s up from just 27% in 1999. Of all working families, 64% reported using flexible work arrangements like working from home, part-time work, and shift work, in order to manage childcare - which is up from 56% in 1999.”

 “It’s apparent workplace flexibility is the key for many Australian families in managing their childcare options. Undoubtedly the more flexible work arrangements in place under the Howard Government helped facilitate this trend. Importantly, more Dads than ever before are gearing their work in order to spend time with the children.  It’s a positive social change we need to encourage.”

 “There’s a risk that Labor’s IR laws could mean a return to less flexible workplaces – and that would clearly impact significantly on working families.”

 Mrs Mirabella said the ABC survey also showed that only 22% of children aged 0-12 attended formal childcare, and only 13% of all children attending formal care did so full-time (35 hours or more). Even in the peak age level of 3-4 year olds, 50% were cared for informally by parents or relatives.

  “The ABS survey really highlights the fact that parents are juggling a range of childcare options – but largely taking on the responsibility themselves. The vast majority of children are being cared for exclusively by their parents or a relative. In fact, more children are cared for informally by their grandparents (19%) than those who attend childcare centres (12%).”

 “It clearly shows that when we talk about childcare we need to think beyond Long Day Care Centres and tax rebates for formal care.  We need to look at things like flexible workplaces and support for parents who take on that vital care role.”

 “We tend to get the message that it’s the norm for babies to attend long day care full-time and nothing could be further from the truth.  When it comes to children under 1 year old, less that 9% are actually in formal care,” Mrs Mirabella said.

 Mrs Mirabella said the report also showed that parents engaged in informal learning with their children – with 99% of parents of 3 to 8 year olds either reading to or listening to their child read in the survey week.

 “This survey is really heartening – it shows that parents are out there parenting.  It confirms that we remain a family-oriented society and that today’s busy working parents place great importance on taking a hands-on approach and caring for their children."

  “I’d suggest that new Minister Kate Ellis take a close look at these figures and put parents front and centre of the Childcare and Early Education debates.  It seems to me that Labor’s obsession with the National Quality Framework, childcare ratios, qualifications for childcare workers etc, miss the vital fact that most children are being cared for informally and that parents are the most significant and important educators of all.”