AustraliaAustraliaBy: Hana Abdalla, Alesha Francis, Sue De’Oliveira, Chelsea By: Hana Abdalla, Alesha Francis, Sue De’Oliveira, Chelsea Panchan, and Krizzia PradoPanchan, and Krizzia Prado

Overview of AustraliaOverview of Australia

Australia is located in the Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere

comprising the mainland of comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the the Australian continent, the

island of Tasmania and island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands in numerous smaller islands in

the Indian and Pacific the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Oceans.

Neighbouring countries include Neighbouring countries include ……

New New Zealand to Zealand to

the the Southeast.Southeast.

New Caledonia

to the Northeast

The population isThe population is 22 million22 million, with , with

approximately approximately 60%60% concentrated in concentrated in and around the and around the mainland state mainland state

capitals of Sydney, capitals of Sydney, Melbourne, Melbourne,

Brisbane, Perth and Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide.Adelaide.

The nation's capital The nation's capital city is city is Canberra, Canberra, in the Australian in the Australian Capital Territory.Capital Territory.

National BirdNational BirdThe Emu (The Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiaeDromaius novaehollandiae), is the ), is the largest bird native to Australia and the only largest bird native to Australia and the only

extant member of the genus extant member of the genus DromaiusDromaius..

School attendance is School attendance is compulsory throughout Australia. compulsory throughout Australia. All children receive 11 years of compulsory All children receive 11 years of compulsory education from the age of 6 to 16 (Year 1 to 10),education from the age of 6 to 16 (Year 1 to 10),[215] before they can undertake two more years [215] before they can undertake two more years (Years 11 and 12), contributing to an adult (Years 11 and 12), contributing to an adult literacy rate that is assumed to be 99%. literacy rate that is assumed to be 99%.

History of Childcare History of Childcare SystemSystem

Early Childhood Australia began as the Australian Early Childhood Australia began as the Australian Pre-School Association which was formed in 1938.Pre-School Association which was formed in 1938.

Early Childhood Australia is the top Early Childhood Australia is the top assisted program in Australia that acts in assisted program in Australia that acts in the concern of young children, families the concern of young children, families and  ECE.and  ECE.

It was renamed the Early It was renamed the Early Childhood Australia in 2003Childhood Australia in 2003

The Code of Ethics in Australia The Code of Ethics in Australia was first developed in 1990was first developed in 1990

Type of Childcare Type of Childcare SystemSystem

Child Care Child Care ArrangementsArrangements

Formal ChildcareFormal Childcare

Formal Care is Formal Care is used in Australia used in Australia 

It is care that is It is care that is away from the away from the

child's home (Eg. child's home (Eg. before and after before and after school programs, school programs,

long day care. long day care. occasional care occasional care

and family and family daycare)daycare)

Formal Care was used by 25% Formal Care was used by 25% (787,400) children in 2002 (787,400) children in 2002 which was an increase from which was an increase from 1999 (which on 23% of children 1999 (which on 23% of children were using Formal Child Care)were using Formal Child Care)

Most common used daycares were Most common used daycares were long day care and preschool which long day care and preschool which were attended by 10% and 8% of were attended by 10% and 8% of

childrenchildren

Followed by Followed by Before & After Before & After

School School Programs Programs (8%) (8%)

and and Family Family Daycare Daycare (3%) (3%)

and and Occasional Occasional Care Care (1%)(1%)

Both long day care and preschool Both long day care and preschool have increased steadily since 1993have increased steadily since 1993

Informal CareInformal Care

Informal care is a very Informal care is a very common form of child care, common form of child care, particularly for very young particularly for very young children. It's Non-regulated children. It's Non-regulated care, arranged by a child's care, arranged by a child's parent/guardian, either in parent/guardian, either in

the child's home or the child's home or elsewhere. elsewhere.

The proportion of The proportion of children using children using informal care in informal care in 2002 (33%) has 2002 (33%) has declined from declined from 38% in 1993. 38% in 1993. Some 19% Some 19% (591,600) were (591,600) were looked after by looked after by grandparent(s), grandparent(s), 2% by siblings 2% by siblings and 7% by other and 7% by other relatives. Other relatives. Other (unrelated) people (unrelated) people provided care to provided care to 7% of children.7% of children.

Use of informal Use of informal care was care was highest for one highest for one year olds and year olds and then generally then generally decreased as decreased as the age of the age of children children increased. increased. Overall, 37% of Overall, 37% of children under children under five years used five years used informal care informal care compared to compared to 30% of children 30% of children aged 5-11 yearsaged 5-11 years..

Type of CareType of Care

Underlying PhilosophyUnderlying Philosophy

Each Child Care Centre has their own philosophy & Each Child Care Centre has their own philosophy & mission.mission.

The mission statement in Australia is The mission statement in Australia is "Early Childhood Australia will advocate "Early Childhood Australia will advocate

to ensure quality, social justice and to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the equity in all issues relating to the

education and care of children from birth education and care of children from birth to eight years."to eight years."

All child care centers All child care centers ……

……provide trust and reflect partnership provide trust and reflect partnership between children, their parents and staff.between children, their parents and staff.

Each centre Each centre believe in high believe in high

quality care quality care education for all education for all

children!children!

All children and their families All children and their families will be treated with quality, will be treated with quality,

regardless of ethnicity, gender, regardless of ethnicity, gender, religion or culture.religion or culture.

Training of Childcare Training of Childcare WorkersWorkers

Availability, Availability, AccessibilityAccessibility

Programs Programs like the Child like the Child Care Benefit and Care Benefit and the Child Care the Child Care Rebate provide Rebate provide a subsidy for a subsidy for child care usage child care usage for work related for work related purposes.purposes.

It is accessible It is accessible to everyone, to everyone, but funding but funding

from the from the government is government is not accessible not accessible for everyone.for everyone.

There are There are daycares that daycares that

are government are government funded, and funded, and

others are paid others are paid for by working for by working

parentsparents

As last reported As last reported In March 2010 there is aIn March 2010 there is a65,780 vacancy in day cares,65,780 vacancy in day cares,up to 98% vacancies in remote up to 98% vacancies in remote AustraliaAustralia

Child care Child care costs are high costs are high in Australia.in Australia.

The amount The amount of child care benefit of child care benefit (funding) that a (funding) that a family receives is family receives is based on things based on things such as number of such as number of children in child children in child care, type of child care, type of child care and family.care and family.

Funding has Funding has doubled up from doubled up from $1.7 billion$1.7 billion 2004- 2004-05 to 05 to $3.7 billion $3.7 billion in 2008-09in 2008-09

Accessibility has increased in the 0-11 age group from 14% from March 06 to June 08.