Enhancements to MyChild boosts child care information for parents

Australian families can now see online whether child care services have casual vacancies, as well as ongoing vacancies, following enhancements to the MyChild website.

The Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis, said the improvements to www.mychild.gov.aubuild upon recent website developments announced in November 2010.

“This is great news for parents and carers who may be looking for either casual or ongoing child care in their area,” Ms Ellis said.

“Families have told us they want useful, easy-to-access information about child care and MyChild is helping to meet these needs.

“The MyChild website provides a searchable database of over 13,500 child care centres, including information on vacancies, locations, fees and services.

“Child care services can now display vacancies on the MyChild website for casual care by age group, for each day of the week that they are open, making MyChild an even more convenient and useful resource. “Future improvements to MyChild will include information on session type, such as whether the vacancy is for a full day, half day or other session type.

“We will continue to improve and update the MyChild website, to ensure that parents are getting the information they need to make the best choices in child care for their children.”

The Australian Government is committed to supporting parents and children, providing $18.2 billion over four years to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of child care.

“The Gillard Labor Govenrment is providing almost $11 billion more for child care than the last four years of the former Howard Government,” Ms Ellis said.

“Australian parents and families deserve to know that when they drop their children off to care, they will be well looked after.

“The MyChild website is part of our committment to providing transparent information about child care to Australian families.”

More information about child care, vacancies and early childhood education is available at www.mychild.gov.au. Families can also ring the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 (8.00 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday) for advice and assistance.