Comment: The Premier's promise to expand out-of-school-care services looks good on paper but the government's record on delivery is poor
Pictures of politicians and young children? Must be an election coming up. It’s the only time that the education and care of our youngest citizens really gets a look in. Will Gladys Berejiklian’s
Families need out-of-school-hours care – for many this is the glue that allows parents to work in a world where there is an essential mismatch between the 9 to 3 of school hours and the jobs which require employees to be present between at least 9 and 5. In NSW more than 144,000 children from 103,770 families are cared for by before and after school care services. Getting it right for these families would be a vote winner.
Berijiklian’s promises look good on paper: $120 million overall; $50 million of this to help schools buy new equipment and expand; $40 million on rental subsidies for services operating out of public schools.But will the package fix the problem? To answer, one needs to look back to the last election. The same government made an election promise of $20 million to deliver an additional 45,000 additional out-of-school-hours-care places.
OSHC services have long complained about the complexity of the tender process they have to go through to operate in schools. Berejiklian has also promised a specialist team “to take the hassle out of managing contracts with providers for principals”.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
'Holy Cow it's exciting': World's last Blockbuster kicks onWith the last Blockbuster in Australia closing its doors, there will be only one left in the world. And it's relishing its new-found celebrity status.
Read more »
'They didn’t treat me as a person': Scientist with MND denied family cruise holidayProfessor Justin Yerbury and his family had keenly anticipated the seven-night cruise from Sydney to New Caledonia, but were turned away due to his medical condition.
Read more »
Hospital wait times under fire as man waits three days to treat gruesome injuryA man who mangled his leg in a boat trailer mishap last week says his local health system is inconveniencing the people it's designed to help.
Read more »
Taste of Huon festival injects much-needed cash after firesThe annual Taste of the Huon festival draws big crowds, but in the aftermath of this year's bushfires, organisers say this weekend's is the most important in the event's 27 years.
Read more »
Shock jock Alan Jones donates cash to Mark Latham’s NSW campaignNSW One Nation leader, Mark Latham, says shock jock Alan Jones has donated money to his election campaign and has promised to 'not let him down'.
Read more »
Health insurers battle public hospitals over $1b a year cash grabHospital patients are getting caught in a battle between public hospitals and private health insurers over who should pay for their treatment.
Read more »
Christmas Island tropical tour a waste of taxpayer cashA government that once crusaded on a budget emergency is now soaking taxpayers, writes CroweDM
Read more »
Christmas Island tropical tour a waste of taxpayer cashANALYSIS: Australians just paid about $2000 a minute for a press conference on Christmas Island that told us nothing new auspol
Read more »
Alleged carjacker arrested after ‘pulling axe on mum and kids’An alleged carjacker is in police custody, accused of threatening a young mother and her two children in Brisbane’s north with a knife and an axe. 9News
Read more »
Mother bashed and kids forced to hide during home invasionA mother in South Australia has been left bashed after a violent home invasion during which her young children were forced to hide under their beds. 9News
Read more »