Investing in more child care places for those who need it most

 More than $6.5 million in funding, under the Long Day Care Incentive Scheme, will help ensure the sustainability of 13 new Long Day Care centres in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria.

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today said the new services would see the creation of an additional 529 places, including 157 for children aged up to 24 months, across the four states.

“These new Long Day Care centres will provide child care for families in rural and remote areas where previously there has been no access to long day care. The centres will also provide opportunities for parents to participate in their communities, while allowing their children access to high quality and more affordable child care,” Senator Patterson said.

“Sustainability assistance for the13 new Long Day Care centres is in addition to the funding provided for eight new centres announced in December last year. The Long Day Care Incentive Scheme will now provide assistance to 21 new child care services, which will offer 889 places including 287 places for children aged up to 24 months.

“The Howard Government funding will contribute to the cost of running these services and will assist services to remain viable while they continue to build their client base and utilisation rates to sustainable levels.

“The Long Day Care Incentive Scheme is part of the Stronger Families and Communities Strategy – Choice and Flexibility in Child Care.

“Under the scheme community and private providers are offered short term incentives to establish new, viable long day care centres in rural or urban fringe areas of high demand for child care places.

“The Howard Government is committed to providing choice and flexibility in child care options. Opening up a further 529 places in these areas will assist the Government to provide child care to areas of need,” Senator Patterson said.