URGENT GOVERNMENT SUPPORT NEEDED FOR EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE SECTOR AS LOCKDOWN CRISIS LOOMS: THRIVE BY FIVE
18 August 2021 – Early learning and childcare providers in locked down areas are facing crisis and need emergency support from the Prime Minister to ensure they remain sustainable and can retain staff during the pandemic, according to Thrive by Five.
While the Federal Government allowed early learning and childcare centres to waive childcare subsidy gap payments for parents across the nation on Tuesday, providers have been left to make up the shortfall on income without additional financial support or assistance to retain educators.
“The future of early learning and childcare is too precious to gamble with,” Thrive by Five CEO Jay Weatherill said today.
“Early learning and childcare centres in Greater Sydney, and other locked down regions, are under extreme pressure and are reaching breaking point. It’s time the Federal Government stepped in with a support package to help keep early learning providers open and viable.
“The sector was already suffering from an insecure workforce and high fees, now the pandemic and further lockdowns are driving them close to collapse. The Government must help providers make it through the pandemic so when we’re ready to safely open up our schools and businesses, our early learning sector is there to support parents and our economy.
“If parents can’t access affordable, high quality early learning and childcare then they can’t work – it will be a brake on our economy and hold back opportunities for children, parents and women.
“We also know 90% of the size of a person’s brain is developed by the age of five. During this time, children learn social, interpersonal and cognitive skills that will help them lead healthy, happy lives
“The Prime Minister must take responsibility and provide support for quality early learning and childcare centres to remain viable, retain their workers and be ready for when we open up again,” he said.
