Better childcare for ACT families under new national laws

Canberra families will receive a better standard of childcare for their children under new national laws that come into effect from next year, ACT Minister for Community Service Joy Burch.

The ACT Legislative Assembly today passed the Education and Care Services National Law (ACT) Bill 2011, which implements the National Quality Framework agreed to by all Australian governments.

The new laws aim to raise the quality of care to children in early childhood, as well as outside school hours care services.

"The new standards will ensure that every child will have greater interaction with better qualified staff to help them learn and develop," Ms Burch said.

"The ACT Labor Government is committed to ensuring the transition to these reforms is as smooth as possible for childcare providers, which is why we have been working closely with the sector to support them through these changes."

Ms Burch yesterday announced eight childcare centres which will share in $9.2 million in capital upgrades to allow them to expand. The 2011-12 ACT Budget also included a scholarship program to help existing staff attain higher qualifications.

"The ACT Government has been working with the sector to ensure a smooth transition to the new standards, including $60 million support package announced earlier this month through the ACT Budget.

"The ACT childcare sector is well placed to transition smoothly to the new standards. We already meets the new ‘educator to child ratio' outlined in the standards for children over two, and almost half of all service providers already meet the new ratio for children under two.

If passed, the National Quality Standard will come into effect in the ACT on 1 January 2012, and the new qualification standards will be phased in from 2014.