Insight: Mar 17

Tonight Insight speaks to parents struggling with the childcare system and those who are trying innovative solutions including apps, ‘developmental groups’ and co-shared workspaces.

Over a million children are in childcare in Australia.

As parents weigh up the benefits of returning to work, they are also turning to creative ways to deal with common issues such as long waiting lists, exorbitant costs, and inflexible hours.

The Abbott government may have abandoned the paid parental leave scheme, but fixing childcare remains on the agenda.

The program also asks: what childcare reform should the government be looking at?
Guests include:

Bec McIntosh
Mother of two. “If I had my time over, I’d introduce pregnancy testing kits with the childcare enrolment form.”

Mark Woodland
Operates long day care centre open from 6.30am to 10pm. “Our whole centre is incredibly different … parents can log-in in during the day and see what they’re children are doing live, so they get photos and videos.”

Leah Jackson
Son attends long day care for three days and has a nanny for two days. “80% of what I earn goes into childcare.”

Liz Graham
Mother who opened co-sharing workplace with child minding facility. “It’s a co-shared workplace with a child minding facility attached to it. The best thing about it hands down is the fact that you can still get a full day’s worth of work done but your kids are right there.”

Walter Tabua
Father. “Sometimes just appears that all the government’s really interested is our productivity rather than just having our child, you know, educated and cared for.”

Tuesday at 8.30pm on SBS ONE.