Take a Break child care funding confusion

By Joseph Thomsen ABC Goulburn Murray

New federal government funding for occasional child care in Victoria fails to clarify future of Take a Break service.

Will the Take a Break occasional child care program be able continue its critical role in regional Victorian communities?

A dispute between the federal and state governments will end the program's funding from next month, with the Victorian state government refusing to inject any funds after the federal government announced it would no longer contribute approximately one million dollars per year to the program.

Then, after a passionate community outcry, Federal Minister for Children Kate Ellis recently announced new funding for up to 260 occasional child care places across Victoria.

So is this funding a lifeline for the Take a Break service or not?

Minister Ellis says Take a Break is eligible for the funding but each service will have to put in an application.
"All interested Take A Break services can apply to become approved occasional care services. That means that they will then administer child care benefit which they haven't previously, and the parents will be eligible for the child care rebate. That being said, we say that this is not a perfect substitute for Take A Break."

It appears that for all Take A Break services to continue the Victorian Government would have to more than match the Federal Government's contribution.

"I believe it's about $1.8 million at the moment, which is the combination of federal and state funding. So if some of those places move to approved occasional care, of they put in just over a million dollars, then we would see that there wouldn't be much change to Take a Break at all."

However the Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development Wendy Lovell says she will not re-fund the Take a Break service in the wake of this new federal funding, as the funding model has changed.

"So what she's just told us is that she's putting $2.2 million into funding occasional care places through approved providers, but she's withdrawing $1.1 million from the Take a Break service. So she's doubled the funding while providing less places. She could've just re-funded the Take a Break service ... and that is the model that we have said, if she re-funds it, we would happily continue to fund the state government share of that."

Please see the online article at ABC Goulburn Murray that include the full interviews with Wendy Lovell and Kate Ellis

Angela Savage Speech Occasional Childcare rally

I’d like to acknowledge the traditional owners of this and on which we are gathered and to pay my respects to elders past and present.

The Association of Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres is proud to support this rally to save occasional child care. In addition to being the largest providers of occasional child care in Victoria, Neighbourhood Houses and Learning Centres believe strongly in supporting communities to exercise their democratic rights and make their political voices heard.

The grassroots response to the cessation of government funding for occasional child care has been remarkable. Parents, carers and providers throughout Victoria have mobilised to make their voices heard through letter writing, social media, petitioning, demonstrations and rallies around the state. The kids have done their bit through Operation Big Fridge.

I want to make special mention of those in the Goulburn Valley – four women in particular referred top as the ‘awesome foursome’ in our office – and also Vicky Weatherlake, who has led the social media charge on this issue.

I also want to thank the organisations who have gone on the record as supporting the reinstatement of funding for occasional child care, including the Victorian Farmers Federation, United Dairy Farmers of Victoria, Country Women’s Association of Victoria, the Australian Nurses Federation, Save the Children, Brimbank Council, Moonee Valley Council, Community Child Care Victoria.

Early on in this campaign, one mother said to me, “You know, I’ve voted all my life, but this is the first time I’ve ever asked for anything.”

I want to say to you and all the mothers, fathers, carers, children and supporters here today that you have the right to ask this of your leaders – it is not too much to ask.

But to be honest, I am flabbergasted that we are still in this situation, rallying on the steps of Parliament for the second time in two months and calling for the responsible ministers—Wendy Lovell at the state level and Kate Ellis at the Federal level—to work together to sustain these vital services.  Families throughout Victoria are being held to ransom in what appears to be a case of political brinkpersonship between these two ministers. Enough already with the finger-pointing: we want to see the two ministers work constructively on a solution. This isn’t about you. It’s about us. It’s about strong, healthy, safe communities.

Minister Wendy Lovell has said the state government will put its share of the funding back on the table if the Federal government reinstates its share. That money is needed now, before services start closing. We call on Minister Lovell to restore the state’s contribution immediately. And we call on Minister Ellis to reinstate the support  of the Federal government for neighbourhood model occasional care.

Angela Savage

Executive Officer

Association of Neighbourhood Houses & Learning Centres