Rural and remote families with young children could be made to pay up to five times their current fees to attend mobile early childhood services under changes being considered by the Federal Government’s Jobs for Families Child Care Package.
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The popular Bogan Bush Mobile (BBM) Service which is based in Nyngan and sponsored by the council is likely to be affected by the change to new child care funding arrangements, which could see parents paying as much as $24.50 per child to attend a session.
BBM provides early educational services to rural and remote families, many of which had no other access to early childhood teachers or programs.
“In total around 210 children and their parents and carers attend the service for two hours each fortnight, and are given access to trained early Childhood teachers and exposed to a curriculum which fits in with the Early Years Learning Framework,” Mayor, Ray Donald said.
BBM has traditionally been funded by the Department of Education under a Budget Based Funding Model whereby it receives a set amount of funds each year and must operate within that budget.
The council director of Children’s Services, Nichole Jenkins said the two hour sessions are a suitable length for children aged 0-5, and feasible for parents who, because of the distance they travel to attend, have always stayed for the sessions.
“It is an educational experience for both children and their caregivers,” she said.
“What they’ve told us they need is what we are already providing is access to an affordable, practical and quality early childhood session that promotes and supports children’s early development.”
Mrs Jenkins said under the changes, the service could come under Child Care Subsidy funding, which could mean an increase in session sees from the current $5 per child to as much as $24.50.
“Many of our families have indicated that this cost would be prohibitive to them attending on a regular basis, which could mean some children not accessing early childhood services at all,” she said.
The Federal Government commissioned Pricewaterhouse Coopers to prepare a report on the BBM and make recommendations regarding its transition to the new model. The Bogan Shire Council has responded to the report, indicating the proposed changes were likely to render the service not viable, and not appropriate to the needs of rural and remote families.
