Change to CC regulations means prices go up in January?

[AnyDream]

I caught the end of a Ch10 news story (uh huh, i know not to take it toooo seriously ) but they were rabbiting on about some kind of change to child care regulations? legislation? or something that would come into effect in Jan 2012 that means centres are having to put their fees up?

They showcased a number of families who were pulling their kids out of care because of the increases.

Does anyone know anything about this or is it just another ch10 beat up?

[Cally]

Not sure about Jan 12, but ours have gone up $4 a day as of today because of changes to regulations in NSW. The news have been running stories for a few weeks of expected increases around $18 a day - hasn't eventuated for us, maybe in the middle of Sydney though.

[Astrid]

Ours went up by $7 per day and I was under the impression that it was due to impending changes to regulations (I could be wrong though). It would not surprise me though if there was another increase at the start of 2012.

[AnyDream]

Ours is going up by over $7 per day, thereby outstripping my payrise to the tune of $30 pf.

[Floweryfields]

They are talking about the legislative changes that have been in place for 2012 for 2 years now. I suppose we are much closer, so it's something to 'make' news about again.
Basically, some states are having their ratios reduced. It doesn't effect Qld because our ratios have always been lower than other states. Given the new regs were still in draft form the last time I had a read (about a month ago) the new ratios are: 0-15mths 1:4 (previously 1:5 in some states), 15mths -2 1:5 (previously 1:6 ins some states). Other proposed changes for 2014 are a reduction in the older age groups by 1 or 2 children in the ratio.
So in a babies room that previously had 10 children, centres will now either have to lose two places per day (potentially $700 upwards a week) for the same staff cost or (if the regs allow large room numbers) have 12 children in a room and employ an additional staff member for those 2 children (also not cost effective).

Also in some states, there was formerly no requirement for a seperate nursery or sleep room if you like, in the infants room. Here in Qld we must have a seperate room for cots, in some other states cots were allowed to be in the play room. Regulatory changes that had been proposed were expecting centres to create seperate rooms, however there was no suggestion of that in the draft regs. That would require big changes for centres that would likely be financially crippling.

I'm not sure what state you girls are in, but our centre put fees up $3 per day - this was to cover the pay increase from 1st July for us.

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Centres that were open prior to the finalisation of the Victorian CS Regs in May 2009 were put under a transitional period and that is due to end 'transition' as of Jan 1.
This does not affect all centres, but those that were open and functioning prior to the regs change.
On top of that as ausgirl has explained the national regs are due to take effect Jan 1 but some of those things will also have transitional periods.

in the draft, which is expected to be finalised in august - the ratios will change (open post May 2009 centres will still be similar for U3's as they are operating under 2009 regs) to 1:4 for 0-2 years and stay at 1:5 for 2-3 years. The ratios will drop from 1:15 in O3's to 1:11. there are certain other things such as rather than just having x amount of diploma qualifieds required on the premises at least 50% need to be qualified or in training to attain their diploma. Early Childhood Tachers are becoming compulsory in all centres, even if they do not offer a stand alone pre-school. There will more than likely be a transitional period with the National Regs similar to as explained above

(our centre has not raised fees this july however we do reasses every 3months and do expect a raise in october or jan)

[Floweryfields]

The qualified teachers isn't until 2014 though, (although they are making it impossible to maintain the highest quality rating without one from next year), and centres can get funding for that (in Qld at least) so that should not effect wages, ie fees.

[Astrid]

Arghh - kid interruption will be back or delete

[Floweryfields]

Arghh - kid interruption will be back or delete

Um, huh?