Family childcare gets funding break

OCCASIONAL childcare for the future of more than 200 Yarra Ranges’ families is looking up, with the Federal Government last week pledging to reinstate cash for Take a Break.
It withdrew its $12 million for the program in June last year, threatening providers such as the Yarra Centre and Upper Yarra Community House, but the former State Government met the shortfall.
However, this year’s State Budget had no cash for Take a Break, and Victorian Education Minister Wendy Lovell said it would only chip in its share if the Federal Government brought its funds back to the table.
Last Thursday 24 November Federal Parliament passed a motion calling for the funding to be reinstated.
Ms Lovell said the Victorian government was “awaiting confirmation from the Federal Labor Government on the reinstatement of the TAB program”.
“If the Federal Labor Government confirms that it is returning the TAB funding that it cut from Victoria in 2010, the Victorian Government will be pleased to honour its commitment to continue Victoria’s traditional share of the program,” she said.
The move follows Yarra Ranges councillors petitioning for the governments to reinstate the program, as well as 400 new occasional care places for Victorians announced through the Federal Government at the start of November.
Take a Break was due to cease on 31 December, leaving parents facing fee hikes or service cuts.