Local Government

The ASU has told public hearings into child care reform that we oppose any watering down of qualifications or regulations that protect the best interests of children. The hearings are occurring around the country following the publication of the Productivity Commission's Draft Report on Childcare and Early Childhood Learning. The…

The future of children's services across the country is currently being shaped. After receiving submissions from various child care industry stakeholders, including the ASU, the Productivity Commission has released its Draft Report on Childcare and Early Childhood Learning and is calling for responses to their recommendations. Help the ASU with…

The ASU made a submission to a Department of Social Services (DSS) Discussion Paper on aged care services. The DSS Paper, titled Key Directions for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme, was released for purposes of obtaining feedback on proposals for significant changes to the way aged care services are provided.…

The ASU recently lodged a submission into the Senate Inquiry examining the Abbott Government's proposed income test freeze for the calculation of Child Care Benefit. We are objecting to the freeze on the basis that it will adversely affect the vulnerable most, including low income families and those with children…

For the first time, "job security" has been enshrined as a core objective of the Award covering more than 50,000 local government workers across New South Wales. The new Award was finalised by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission after being overwhelmingly endorsed by council employees, with 300 mass meetings held…

Any move to extend subsidised childcare rebates to people who use in-home care must be paid for with additional funding to the early childhood sector, unions said today. "Unions support a childcare system that is high quality, well regulated and puts the wellbeing of children first," said ACTU President Ged…

Childcare regulation isn’t red tape. It stops our kids getting hurt, or sick, and makes sure they play in a nurturing environment. It makes sure that they are properly supervised by well-trained staff. As a parent, I strongly support the National Quality Framework for childcare and oppose any moves to…

Local government councils across the country have expressed their alarm at the Federal Government's intention to cut funding to their sector. Their peak body, the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA), yesterday published the resolution of their National General Assembly calling for the Government to reverse their decision. The concerns mirror…

The ASU advocates for its members in the child care sector and values their work all year round, but Child Care Week 16 to 20 June 2014 allows a special focus on the importance of the work the sector does. With various inquiries into the child care sector ongoing at…

An independent report by the Public Services International Research Unit (PSIRU), shows that there are a range of issues with privatisation using the shared services model. The same model is being pushed in some local government areas in Australia. The report "Shared Services - setting unrealistic expectations" by Yuliya Yurchenko…