Council to end waiting list nightmare for childcare places

According to Clr Firth, the process of applying for childcare is too expensive and time consuming. “Parents needing a childcare place have to fill out forms at each centre they apply to, and some are even forced to pay a non-refundable fee to go on a waiting list. Childcare shortages in the City of Sydney are so bad that many parents end up on over ten different waiting lists,” she said.

Erskineville mother, Rosanne Kerlin, spent 18 months trying to secure a childcare place so she would be able to return to work after the birth of her daughter. Kerlin placed her unborn child on 21 childcare waiting lists and 2 family day care lists. For many of the lists she was required to pay a non-refundable application fee of between $10 and $100.

She said, “I did not get a single call from one of these childcare centres offering me a place. Every Monday for months I rang each centre to get an update, and I begged, and I pleaded, and I persuaded, and I compromised. Many told me they had a waiting list of over 2 years, some told me I would never get a spot.”

Kerlin was eventually granted placements at two centres that provided 2 days care each at a cost of $624 dollars a fortnight. Kerlin says despite her negative experience, she was one of the luckier parents.

“Many first time mothers I know are in a far worse position. Some are paying up to $110 a day for care, many have suffered career set-backs by having to go parttime as they’re unable to find suitable full-time care. A couple have resorted to enlisting extended family members to help out in the short term and one has been forced to resign.”

Antoinette le Marchant is the chief executive of KU Children’s Services, which runs 150 not-forprofit centres. She said, “It’s a great idea that will help childcare providers understand what parents want. It will save frustration on the part of both parents and service providers.”

Marchant, however, warned that a centralised waiting list would be difficult to administrate and would need considerable resources to be a success. Firth says funding for childcare shouldn’t be an issue.

“Council currently has a $300 million surplus. We should be using this to help new parents desperate for childcare,” Clr Firth said.

In recent months, City of Sydney Council has announced a number of strategies aimed at addressing the inner city childcare crisis.

The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore said, “To address the serious under-provision of child care places, the City is implementing a range of strategies including upgrading Council-owned facilities, strict planning instruments as well as investigating using developer levies for child care centres.

“The City is also leading by example, spending more than $4 million upgrading Redfern, Alexandria and Surry Hills child care centres, and reopening a disused 38 place facility in Chippendale. When complete, these works will provide an additional 62 places including 35 for children aged under two,” Clr Moore said.

Inner city resident Sean Macken and children Photo: Ali Blogg 

[South Sydney Herald July 2006]