The regulation, intended to stop unscrupulous operators from rorting childcare rebates, has come under fire from day care educators and parents.
In a December 16 Leader story, National Family Day Care Educator of the Year Magda Sanchez, of Chiquitos Family Day Care at Cronulla, said the government had lost its grip on the private family day care sector and that families in Australia were paying the price.
Ms Sanchez has said: ‘‘How can I say that family dday care is good but then send my son off to a childcare centre?’
It is understood a small number of family day care operators have been enrolling children to claim a rebate, when they have been caring for their child at home.
Family day care educators can care for their children at home but cannot claim a rebate for this.
On December 15, Family Day Care Australia issued a statement saying it would petition the senate. Chief executive Carla Northam said: ‘‘We expect that this process of parliamentary scrutiny will clearly identify the limiting of human rights and significant impacts on the restriction of educators’ access to family day care for their own children.’’
Ms Ley said the government had consulted with a wide range of people, including Family Day Care Australia and the relevant state bodies.
‘‘Currently there are a range of dodgy practices being undertaken in family day care – including child swapping – that are ripping off taxpayers and giving the sector a bad name, which is why the government is taking action,’’ Ms Ley said.
‘‘The fact is family day care was given access to government subsidies so educators could operate a child care business in their home whilst caring for their own children.
‘‘By closing these loopholes we are bringing family day care back into line with its original intent, and protecting taxpayers, families and the future of the sector.’’
Details: uniteforrightsfdc.com.au
