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?

[Astrid]

Was going to add something, but by the time I typed it, got distracted by kids, it had already been said, so was pointless. I would have deleted, but cannot seem to any more.

[Floweryfields]

Oh! Sorry, that makes sense now!

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Yep ausgirl you are right, the ECT regulation is transitional and will not take affect until Jan 2014.
I hadn't got to that part yet!!
That is the same for the new ratios in over 36m as well.
Again, any new centres that begin their license the date of or following the implementation of the National Regs are the ones that have to apply all regs straight away
(that is how it was with Vic 2009 anyway... our centre was taken over 7 days before the new regs). That means new centres will again likely have much higher running costs... it makes you wonder how they stay in business sometimes (and yet they are popping up everywhere done here.... there are four or five estates on the go where i am... at least three of them have proposed centrss)

[Floweryfields]

I don't know how they stay running really - we only just manage to keep our heads above water - things are always very tight! As for the teacher thing, we've been advertising for one for most of the year and can't attract anyone - which I'm not suprised, given the wages and conditions compared to the state/school system. Seems pretty unfair that under the quality system, regardless of how fabulously we do everything else, just because we cant find a teacher, we only get a satisfactory (or whatever the new terminology is) standard.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

side question....
the funding that child care centres can get for running an approved kindergaten program with qualified ECT etc.... what is that funding intended to be used for? is it to supplement award wages for ECT to make it more of an incentive for teachers to apply for these jobs? or is it for advertising or what? and is it a one off thing?

[Floweryfields]

The funding is for a year - I don't know whether you can reapply each year or not - as we have yet to find a teacher. You are funded so much per child in the kindergarten program for the year - those children must by 4 by 1 July in their kindy year and attend a minimum of 15 hours per week to qualify. The funding is intended to supplement the income paid to the qualified teacher - as it is quite a bit more than the GL position would earn - in fact in most cases the teacher would earn more than the actual director of the centre (which I feel is absurd). And yes I suppose it is to encourage teachers to the industry - BUT and this is the big but, teachers are used to the conditions in the school system - 8-3 days (no shift work), 11 weeks paid leave per year etc. So it is still proving very difficult to get teachers into childcare centres.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

thats interesting because i asked a director about ECT wages just the other day and she said that they get the normal Group Leader wages (although it is stepped with years experience *i think*)

[Floweryfields]

Hmm, well my support manager sent me through the teachers award that they are supposed to be paid under, it's something like 4% above the state system to try and attract them. The funding isn't just supposed to be a bonus for the centre - if the centre were found not to be paying the teacher the right rate, they'd be in a world of trouble I'd imagine as you sign all the agreements, etc when you fill out the funding application.
It is stepped with years of experience, as are GL wages. So the first year out teacher is not earning much more than a GL.
If I recall, the funding amount is arund $1300 per child per year. So say you have 35 4 year olds who qualify, the centre will be paid $45500 for that year's funding. That's alot of cash if it's not being used to pay a qualified teachers rates!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

your right. i am going to ask her again. it is something i would consider doing (taking the ECT role) but seriously if there is additonal money to be paid (rightfully to the ECT) then i would want to be paid it! LOL. do you have the website where i can find the award and the info in regards to the funding?