Flexible Child Care For Rural And Regional Families

Rural and regional Victorian families will have a greater choice of child care options under an agreement to fund more casual and emergency child care places.

Victorian Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos and Federal Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham today announced the second round of funding under the $8.56 million agreement between the Andrews Labor Government and the Turnbull Government.

This funding will allow early childhood education and care providers to set up occasional care programs in areas where families have limited access, giving them the flexibility to leave children for short periods of time.

Forty-six early learning services will receive grants of up to $15,300 per annum to support them to offer occasional care places for the first time.

This flexibility is important in rural and regional areas, where irregular and seasonal work such as farming can make it difficult for families to commit to regular child care places.

Earlier this year, the agreement’s first round of funding supported 117 children’s services, mostly in regional and disadvantaged areas, to offer families occasional care places at subsidised rates.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos

“The Andrew Labor Government is making Victoria the Education State – access to high-quality and affordable children’s services is critical for families, no matter where they live or what their circumstances.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham

“This next round of funding represents the Turnbull Government’s commitment to providing for a flexible 21^st Century workforce, offering child care where and when it’s needed.”