Child care assistance
NARROWER TERMS
Evaluation
Evaluation of the 2018 changes to the Australian child care system
In 2018, the Australian government introduced a new funding model for the support of child care provision in Australia. Overall, this evaluation finds that the package did not address the wider set of key policy questions about the role of early childhood education and care.
Report
In Home Care evaluation report
The revised In Home Care (IHC) program was introduced on 2 July 2018, as part of the Child Care Package. This is the final evaluation report for the IHC program, drawing on data collected about IHC up to February 2020.
Evaluation
Evaluation of the Inclusion Support Program
The Inclusion Support Program (ISP) was introduced in July 2016 as an element of the Child Care Package. Overall, this evaluation found that the program was supportive of inclusion of children with additional needs and is supported by stakeholders, although there are a number of...
Report
Towards a childcare guarantee
Childcare and early education in England isn’t working – for children, parents or providers. This report argues that it’s time for a childcare guarantee to lower barriers for parents getting back into work, to reduce costs for families with children, and to ensure every child...
Report
Child Care Subsidy activity test: undermining child development and parental participation
This report argues that universal access to early childhood education and care will deliver significant improvements in childhood development, parental participation and productivity, and future productivity of the children that will benefit from greater access.
Discussion paper
Securing children’s future: Nordic-style investment needed in early years learning
Planned new funds from the national and two major state governments for early years learning have huge potential. This paper argues that Nordic-style measures to reduce privatised childcare – and now boost wages, job security and training support for children’s educators and carers – are...
Briefing paper
Solving the childcare challenge
Britain has the highest childcare costs in the developed world – a typical two-earner family in the UK spends around 30% of their household income on nurseries and childminders. This briefing paper puts forward a threefold solution that would deliver for families and the economy...
Policy report
Research note: modelling of the 2022 Coalition and Labor child care policies
This paper provides results of modelling of the distributional impacts of Labor's proposed child care policy and the Coalition's recently legislated child care policy. Both policies are compared to the previous child care subsidy policy.
Report
The economic benefits of high-quality universal early child education
This report reviews several economic aspects of Australia’s failure to both allocate sufficient economic resources to early child education and care services, and to ensure that those resources are used to provide the best-quality services possible.
Blog post
Explainer: everything you need to know about the major parties’ new childcare policies
In this blog post, Owain Emslie takes a look at the child care policies of the Liberal/National Coalition and the ALP in the lead-up to the 2022 federal election.
Evaluation
Child Care Package evaluation: final report
This evaluation draws heavily upon the administrative data on the children's and families' use of child care, along with surveys implemented by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and by the evaluation team, as well as extensive qualitative data from consultations and location-based case...
Fact sheet
Fact Check: Alan Tudge says the Coalition has increased childcare subsidies by 77 per cent since coming to office. Is he correct?
Minister for Education and Youth, Alan Tudge, says child care subsides have increased by 77 per cent since the Coalition took office. Verdict: Mr Tudge's claim is exaggerated.
Policy report
Tax and the fertility freefall: children, care and the Intergenerational Report
This paper argues that Australia should invest in financial support for parental care time for all children, with options suited to both parents, for at least the first 12 months after birth, and for universal public childcare for all children.
Report
Counting the cost to families: assessing childcare affordability in Australia
Despite government subsidies, childcare is still a significant cost for many families. This paper reviews available data on expenditure and affordability, and presents new analysis of household expenditure data to understand how much Australian families are spending on early childhood education and care, as a...
Report
Options paper: incentivising tradeswork and shiftwork post COVID-19
This report examines the experience of the trades and shift-work segments of the workforce during COVID-19, and outlines a policy agenda that will provide support for these professions so that they remain an attractive career in future.
Discussion paper
Budget blueprint 2021: the roaring twenties
This paper outlines four policy areas that could provide tremendous potential for Australia to improve its economic development.
Report
Women’s work: the impact of the COVID crisis on Australian women
Many Australians – particularly women – suffered more than they needed to in the COVID recession because elements of the government response were inadequate or ill-directed. This report urges governments to inject more money into services sectors, childcare, and aged care, and to rewrite the...
Briefing paper
A comparison of the economic impacts of income tax cuts and childcare spending
This paper outlines a comparison of the impact on employment of child care expenditure and income tax cuts of an equivalent net cost to the budget. The paper argues that the clear superiority of childcare expenditure in stimulating economic activity reflects the concentration of the...
Report
A family stimulus: supporting children, families and the economy through the pandemic
This paper makes the case for a "family stimulus" – a much-needed boost to the income of hard-hit families through the social security system and targeted investment in childcare to ensure the continued functioning of the sector. This will put cash directly into the hands...
Report
How universal child benefits can build a fairer, more inclusive and resilient future
Universal child benefits (UCBs) are regular, unconditional income transfers in the form of cash or tax transfers, which are paid to caregivers of children from the time of pregnancy or birth until the child’s 18th birthday. In this report, the authors call upon governments, donors...
Policy report
Why reform of the Child Care Subsidy would strengthen Australia’s economy
In this report, the McKell Institute advocates for a universal Child Care Subsidy, and evaluates the Working Family Child Care Boost announced by Federal Labor Leader, Anthony Albanese, in his budget reply speech of 8 October 2020.
Policy report
The child care subsidy: options for increasing support for caregivers who want to work
Parents of young children who want to contribute more to household income too often find themselves considering an insufficient financial reward when taking on extra work, once out-of-pocket child care costs are deducted. This report outlines some options for reform of the child care subsidy...
Report
Cheaper childcare: a practical plan to boost female workforce participation
Increasing female workforce participation is one of the biggest economic opportunities for governments. This report identifies a range of policy and social barriers facing women who would prefer to work more paid hours.
Strategy
Australia’s economic reconstruction after COVID-19: a national jobs plan and five ways to get started
In this strategy document, the ACTU calls for a government-led national economic reconstruction plan, and offers up five ideas that are designed to create and save jobs, protect and nurture whole industries, support public and private sector jobs, invest in future skills and training, and...
Policy report
Increasing childcare subsidies would support children, families and the economy
Economic modelling by the Mitchell Institute has found that many families will be significantly financially worse off, following the reintroduction of childcare fees for parents.