Korea looks to Australia for advice on child care

A delegation of child care specialists and policy makers from Korea will visit Australia from 23-25 June to learn more about Australia’s child care accreditation system, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Larry Anthony, said today.

“I welcome the delegation to Australia. They will be looking at how best to adapt the Australian system to the Korean context.

“I am very pleased that other countries recognise what the Australian Government is doing to provide high quality child care. They have looked at the USA and UK models of quality assurance for child care, but preferred Australia’s.

“This clearly shows that the Coalition Government is a world leader when it comes to supporting Australian children and families through child care.

“The Korean delegation have indicated that they are particularly interested in the way Australia’s child care accreditation system is linked to government financial support.

“They will meet with representatives from the Department of Family and Community Services and the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) to discuss such issues.

“They will also visit child care centres and family day care schemes during their stay.

“I welcome the Korean delegation to Australia and support their commitment to improving outcomes for children – a task that the Australian Government is also strongly committed to,” Mr Anthony said.

Dr Hee-jung Yoo, Research Fellow at the Korean Women’s Institute, heads the six-member Korean delegation. It is expected that in 2004, an organisation similar to Australia’s NCAC will be created in South Korea, and by 2005 a child care accreditation service will be operating.