NEW REPORT REVEALS WA MUMS SHORTCHANGED ON $11K EVERY YEAR
21 January, 2021 – A Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) report launched today reveals an alarming shortfall in workforce participation by Western Australian mums due to a lack of available and affordable early learning.
The Making paid work pay for families with children report finds WA mothers with children up to four years old are missing out on $11,000 a year as they are unable to work more than 20 hours a week, burdened by the cost of childcare.
In addition, the report found the lack of workforce participation was robbing the WA economy of an extra $1.5 billion every year.
The report recommends several ways to achieve a high quality and universally accessible early learning system, such as increasing the Federal childcare subsidy and adjusting the State Government’s allocation of Federal funds in the sector.
Jay Weatherill, CEO of Thrive by Five, the campaign to reform Australia’s early learning system, said the CCIWA report confirmed the early learning system was not adequately supporting families, particularly women, and needed urgent reform.
“The current subsidy model is clearly not working and government assistance for families is lagging behind the actual cost of quality early learning and care services. Parents and children have earned a better funding deal,” he said.
“Parents in WA and across Australia need universally accessible and high-quality early learning now more than ever. They need our policymakers to ensure every child is given the best start in life.
“Universally accessible, high-quality early learning and care will transform the system into an integrated service that supports all families and allows children to start primary school without being left developmentally vulnerable.
“This issue is uniting all sectors – from businesses to parents to unions, everyone is calling for reform.
“We need a better early learning system for children, parents, educators and the Australian economy, especially as we try to recover from the COVID crisis. Early learning needs to be a priority for the Federal and every state government in 2021.”
The Making paid work pay for families with children is available here: https://cciwa.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/CCIWA-Making-paid-work-pay-for-working-families-Jan-2021.pdf
