Union: Childcare sector needs overhaul
Posted: October 27th, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Australian News, International News | 19 Comments »REVELATIONS that one in five childcare centres are in breach of health and safety laws highlight the need to overhaul the sector, the union representing childcare workers says.
One in five childcare centres have unsafe buildings or equipment, and a similar number fail on basic hygiene and food standards, the latest audit of childcare centres reveals.
More than 10 per cent of centres failed inspections by the National Childcare Accreditation Council in 2009.
A further 25 per cent failed to keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children.
And childcare workers in one in 20 centres had not washed their hands after changing nappies, wiping noses or before food preparation.
The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union says the audit “underpins the urgency for reform”.
“And we would urge the government to be bold with those reforms,” LHMU assistant national secretary Sue Lines said.
The Federal Government has put $22 million on the table for states and territories to develop a national set of standards for the childcare sector.
It wants staff ratios and qualifications lifted, and a quality rating system for centres.
Ms Lines said boosting staff numbers “would lift standards”.
She said the government would also have greater control of quality if the 50 per cent childcare tax rebate was paid to centres rather than parents.