The Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) was commissioned by Family Day Care Australia to conduct research into quality in family day care. Six high quality services agreed to participate in the study. At each service, the SPRC research team conducted interviews with families, educators, coordination unit staff and representatives from managing organisations, comprising a total...

Child and family policies are developing and expanding in dynamic ways around the world, despite the fiscal austerity that enveloped many countries in the wake of the global financial crisis. However, Australia’s early childhood care polices are in desperate need of reform. The childcare debate needs to re-set, and this paper hopes to provide some...

The Productivity Commission has recommended extending assistance to families with nannies. International experience shows that there are good and bad ways to help families with this kind of care.