Wanted: Families for "nanny trial"

[Tamara (Homes Down Under)]

Childcare reforms: Families are wanted for a federal government $250 million in-home nanny trial

 

• LAUREN WILSON SOCIAL AFFAIRS WRITER
  
• NEWS CORP AUSTRALIA NETWORK
  
• OCTOBER 01, 2015 9:30PM
  

 

 

Calling for sign-ups ... Education Minister Simon Birmingham wants shift workers and families in regional areas to apply for the $250m nanny trial. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

 

 

EXCLUSIVE

PARENTS who work irregular hours and families living in areas where childcare is hard to find are being urged to apply for the government’s two year in-home nanny trial.The $250 million pilot program, announced in the May budget, is now recruiting busy working families and nurses, emergency service workers and hospitality staff.Education Minister Simon Birmingham, who has assumed control of the federal government’s childcare reforms, said interested parents have until October 30 to register.

New trial ... Up to 10,000 childcare will be subsidised under the two year pilot scheme. Picture: Thinkstock

 

 

“We will be able to support 10,000 children in subsidised care that is far more flexible than traditional childcare structures and therefore it is very much targeted to assist people living in rural or remote areas where access to childcare is limited or people who are shift workers and face significant barriers to accessing childcare,” he told News Corp Australia.Unlike childcare centre workers, the nannies that will be employed under the new program will not need to hold formal qualifications in childcare.The only requirements for nannies are; that they be aged 18 or over, be an Australian citizen or hold a 12 month employment visa, hold relevant working with children checks and have first aid qualifications.“The rate of subsidy being paid is significantly less per child (than long day care) so we are not demanding certificate levels of qualification,” Senator Birmingham said.“In many instances with shift workers, nannies will be caring for children who are asleep,” he said

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More flexibility ... Paramedics Simone Haigh, Neil Noble, Education Minister Simon Birmingham and Wayne Stoddard at the Paramedics Australasia Conference 2015 discussing the government's new nanny trial. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

 

 

Paramedic Simone Haigh said the nanny trial program would be welcomed among the mums she works with.“Childcare is mainly available from 8am-5pm but some of our rosters start at 7am and you are not guaranteed to be finished in the afternoon, you could be 2-3 hours late and it is causing a huge amount of concern,” she said.To be eligible to participate in the program families must have a household income of less than $250,000, all children must be vaccinated, and both parents must work, train or study for at least eight hours per fortnight.The pilot program will also seek families who find themselves in similar childcare dilemmas and who can share a nanny.One nanny will be capable of looking after a maximum of four preschool-aged kids or seven children in total, under the program.The government will subsidise up to 85 per cent of the fixed hourly fee of $7 per hour per child, or $5.95 per hour per child.Nannies will not be expected to undertake any cleaning, shopping or other household duties for the family unless they are directly related to the care of the child.Click here for more information.Originally published as Families wanted for $250m nanny trial

[clarkes]

This sounds like such a good scheme for all those people struggling to balance work and children.

How many workers on here will consider applying for it?

The benefites look really good.