Child care and kindergartens : caring about quality
Overview
In recent years, the increasing number of households where both parents are employed outside the home has prompted an expansion in the range and number of services available for the care of young children. In addition to this expansion, the children’s services industry is undergoing considerable change as a result of recent alterations to Commonwealth funding arrangements, structural changes in the delivery of services by local councils and the introduction of new State legislation covering children’s services. In such an environment, the functions of the State Government in regulating, funding and planning for children’s services are increasingly important and need to be clearly focussed on achieving positive outcomes for children. It is hoped that this Report will provide the impetus to address the deficiencies identified during the audit in the way the State’s role in this area is currently carried out. It is also aimed at adding value through identifying issues which need to be considered in the change process.