Why round-the-clock childcare centres wouldn't work in Western Sydney

PENRITH, Australia - March 19, 2013 - PRLog -- 24/7 childcare wouldn’t work in Western Sydney

The Government’s plan to trial an after-hours childcare system will lead to an increase in fees and is not a sustainable solution for western Sydney parents.

According to Debbie Pham, Founder and CEO of western Sydney based child care centres Kids Korner the cost of keeping a child care centre open overnight and across the weekend is simply too high.

“Keeping a childcare centre open 24 hours a day would certainly see fees rise as individual centres would have to pay penalty rates to staff who work the night and weekend shifts,” says Ms Pham. “Due to Government regulations, even if only one child was being cared for overnight, the centre would still have to provide two staff members for the entire time.”  

Ms Pham also is not sure there is enough demand for such a service in western Sydney.

“I know of centres within the Sydney CBD who rarely get more than two children utilising this service,” she said. “And you would think the demand for after-hours childcare would be greater there.

“Many western Sydney parents I have spoken to would use a 24-hour childcare system as an occasional service requirement only. If that is the case, it would be more economical to hire a nanny for the night.

“Unless this service is subsidised by the Government, an after-hours childcare system is not something we would consider in any of our centres.”

For more information please contact:

Kirrily Ciscato

Debbie Pham

kirrilyciscato@marketingangels.com.au

Debbie@kidskorner.com.au

0414 303 695

02 9606 8555