GOVT's new parametres aroung CCR........means tested?

[briggsy's girl]

I also know of a case where a mother with three kids working part time and supposedly studying, had her children both in daycare (creche) during the day and overnight family daycare. The o/n care also extended to the weekends.

There were kids that would stay for up to five or six days full time with Mum due to circumstances with their families (24/7) to stop them having the stress of swapping locations during the day. there were a couple with cerebral palsy that would often stay two or three nights in a row. it was safer for them to be at our place (yes, i was personally witness to the way their dad treated them - and i suspect the CP came around due to the abuse dished out on their mother while she was pg - definitely safer at our place)

[FabFiona]

I do love Budget speculation! Drives me a bit batty really.

All of this talk is just that - speculation. Whilst I'm sure the media are acting on whispers they are hearing, some people find it very upsetting and confusing because they think it's really happening rather than just whispers. Sunrise also couldn't get the name of the benefit right, calling it by its old name. Doesn't give me much confidence in the media really.

That being said, I'll be a very cranky staffer if the CCR is modified. After all, I'm the one who takes the cranky phone calls and responds to the cranky emails.

The Budget is released on May 13 so we will know more then.

[AnyDream]

I think the system does a good job of trying to be fairly consistent when it comes to fairness. At risk children should definitely have access to as much care as the system can provide them - and if that care is provided well, it may not be apparent to other families who use the services which children are there because they're at risk.

Having said that, there are all sorts of situations which the current childcare and funding guidelines don't help. When I was having chemo, for example, I could not get a FDC place for love nor money on the day after treatment. No way I could have looked after my boisterous 18 month old, and yet there was no way a place could be 'created' for us by the service (not a priority category). Likewise, Defence families - who may face periods of upto 10 months functioning as single parent families under very stressful circumstances and usually geographically distant from their existing family/support networks - are often forced to get by with insufficient care because every time you move state it's waiting list time again. No help with paying for it, either.