Shadow Minister visits local Childcare Centres
17-May-2011
Shadow Minister for Childcare and Early Childhood Learning the Hon Sussan Ley MP visited the Parkes Electorate today to meet with local childcare service providers to discuss issues affecting their viability.
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton travelled with Ms Ley to Coonamble to visit the Coonamble Children’s Service and then to Dubbo where they had a phone conference with the Cobar Mobile Children’s Service.
“One of the issues that was raised was the implementation of the National Quality Framework and the impact this will have on their organisation.
The National Quality Framework will require smaller child to teacher ratios and a higher level of qualification for staff.
“While the requirement for greater qualifications is laudable the practicality of obtaining the necessary qualifications in towns such as Coonamble is difficult, because people would be expected to travel to Dubbo to attend either TAFE or university.”
Mr Coulton welcomed the Shadow Minister’s visit as many childcare centres had contacted him with their concerns. This also gave Ms Ley the opportunity to meet with people directly affected by the proposed changes.
“Sussan Ley represents an electorate similar to my own, which enables her to understand the issues my communities face.”
“Childcare is one of the key community services that young families need to enable them to live and work in a regional or rural town. If these services are not available it severely impacts on a town’s ability to attract new residents.”