Family Day Care services for Rural Families

Families living on remote properties in rural Queensland can access in-home care for their children during peak seasonal periods after Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony, today announced annual funding of $177,800.

Mr Anthony said up to 40 child care places would be available to families under the new Rural Family Care Service that would see qualified carers travelling to properties to look after children in their own homes.

In-home child care will be available for families in rural areas including the western parts of the Darling Downs, the more remote areas of the Burnett and Central Queensland, and the Atherton Tablelands.

“These areas include families involved in various forms of farming, including grain production, piggeries, lot-fed production of cattle, as well as cattle and sheep grazing,” Mr Anthony said.

“Parents on these properties need short-term reliable child care during peak seasonal periods when they are busy planting, harvesting or mustering sheep and cattle.”

Mr Anthony said the focus would be on flexibility, as the Government recognised that the needs of rural and remote areas often differed from families in larger regional or metropolitan centres.

“The innovative Rural Family Care Service demonstrates the Coalition Government’s ongoing commitment towards meeting the child care needs of all families, regardless of where they live or what line of work they are in,” Mr Anthony said.