12,900 extra child care places for Queensland

Queensland families are set to benefit from an additional 12,960 child care places to help them with the care of their children before and after school hours and during school holidays, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony announced today.

“These places will attract around $11.7 million of Australian Government funding next financial year for 12,445 new Outside School Hours Care and 515 new Family Day Care places.

“Importantly, this allocation will meet all current verified unmet demand for these places across the State.

“Outside School Hours Care provides families with child care before and after school hours and during school holidays. Family Day Care provides child care for young children in a carers home.

“Of the 12,445 new Outside School Hours Care places, 7,605 places will go to 217 new services. Places have been allocated to areas including Beenleigh, Rockhampton, Fortitude Valley, Toowoomba, Ashgrove, Townsville, Kippa-Ring, and Cairns amongst many others.

“This takes the number of Outside School Hours Care places in Queensland to 67,965 places – up from 13,587 places that the Coalition Government came to office in 1996.

“These new places will attract around $9 million of Australian Government funding next financial year.

“There are also 515 new Family Day Care places across Queensland that will attract around $2.7 million of Australian Government funding next financial year. These places will be allocated to 16 existing services and one new service.

“It takes the number of Family Day Care places in Queensland to 15,391 – up from 10,682 in 1996.

“This allocation of places has been made possible through record funding to child care in the last Federal Budget of more that $8.5 billion for the next four years.

“Places have been distributed after a comprehensive process to ensure demand would be met. The Department of Family and Community Services advertised nationally to encourage current and new services to apply for places.

“After a selection and assessment process, I am pleased that these places will meet verified demand for Outside School Hours Care and Family Day Care in Queensland,” Mr Anthony said.