THRIVE BY FIVE WELCOMES EXPANDED OUT-OF-SCHOOL-HOURS CARE TRIAL IN SOUTH
AUSTRALIA
25 March 2024 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign has welcomed the trialling of South Australia’s Kindy Care program, which will expand access to government-run, subsidised out-of-school-hours care for families and children in the state.
Minderoo’s Jay Weatherill said that the trial will provide much-needed support to working families across South Australia and allow greater flexibility for primary carers wanting to re-enter the workforce.
“This is a much welcome initiative by the South Australian government and we encourage Premier Malinauskas and Minister Boyer to strongly consider making these changes permanent.
“Expanded access to government-run out-of-school-hours care will ensure that South Australian families do not have to make the unfair choice between caring for their children or re-entering the workforce,” Mr Weatherill said.
As a part of the trial, government-run preschools across South Australia will start offering subsidised sessions to families between 7 AM – 6 PM, an expansion from the current session timings of 9 AM – 3 PM.
The expansion of these services was a recommendation made by South Australia’s Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, led by Julia Gillard.
“This trial will enable thousands of primary carers across the state, who are predominantly women, to have greater flexibility in their working arrangements and will go a long way in reducing the gender pay gap,” Mr Weatherill said.
“South Australia’s Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care provided the state government with a strong plan to make access to early learning more accessible and affordable for all families, and it is encouraging to see that Premier Malinauskas and his cabinet have begun working on many of the recommendations.”
Brad Chilcott, convenor of Thrive by Five’s South Australian Alliance said that the trial was a positive step in the right direction and would provide families and children across the state with much-needed support.
“Ensuring that families are able to access affordable out-of-school-hours (OSHC) care will make it easier for them to navigate caregiving responsibilities while juggling work.
“For far too many families across South Australia, access to OSHC services remains unaffordable and inaccessible, restricting many primary carers, who are predominantly women, from re-entering the workforce.
“This trial will not only enable primary carers to re-enter the workforce should they choose to, it will also give the state economy a boost by lifting participation rates.
“We congratulate Premier Malinauskas and his government for taking this important step and encourage them to work towards making these changes permanent,” Mr Chilcott said.
