Under 2 childcare?

We tried 3 different centres ALL across canberra.

Not one of them was satisfactory.

Long wait times, uninterested staff, children left crying… very sad.

They say necessity is the mother of invention…. the only positive thing that came from that experience is that we started our own centre.

I feel so bad that children have to go to places that have such a poor environment but unfortunately most of the places are just run as a business so they do cut backs, low pay no investment.

this is not the way it should be.
this is not the way it has to be.

Hi there, we moved to Canberra 3.5 years ago and I put my (then 5 month old) son’s name down at virtually every childcare centre in all of the ACT. Some places asked for “deposits” just to be placed on the waiting list…apparently our Chief Minister has never heard of this happening (hint Mrs. Gallagher: it happened AGAIN when I started putting my daughter’s name on waiting lists 2 years later…). Thankfully we were offered a place at the 11th hour just before I started work here. Full time places are easier to get as that’s what the childcare centres prefer and despite website advice you do need to put your name down everywhere you can AND harrass them to no end to get a spot. Also, while my daugher was accepted into the same centre as my son, I had to accept that place earlier than I would have liked, otherwise the place would have been offered to another family.

All these years later, I still have childcare centres ringing to check if I need a place for my now 4 year old boy…ummm…no…thanks…

I started putting my name down at centres for a full time placement starting February 2014 when I was 6 weeks pregnant (July 2012). My child will be one in February. I selected centres close to home, on route to work and near my work. I maintained a ‘database’ of these centres and recorded everything as occasionally my name was deleted or dropped off at their end. I called every centre once a month to say I was still interested, and most importantly I said I was flexible with days and happy to accept whatever was available. I made sure I visited every centre. There were 18 centres in total that I had my name down. I haven’t been offered any full time places, but was offered several 2/3 day a week places some 19 months later.

My advice is to not be picky about the ‘small’ details like price, whether or not you like a centre until you actually get offered a place. A lot can change in 19 months especially in the childcare industry where staff turnover is so high.

Thank you for your comments.

I really do agree with the comments that $10 an hour is cheap for what they do for our children.

I think that is a very small price to pay for looking after our son!

The $10 per hour minus the $3 per hour reduction with the minimum govt rebate of $7500 per year.
(10hrs a day x 5 days x 48 weeks.)
So in fact is only $7 an hour.

There is a small percentage of the community who do not qualify at all for any further rebates, but for the masses there are still further rebates that make it even cheaper per hour.

Full rebates can cut the $7 per hour in half to only $3 – 3.50 per hour.

Paying staff above the wage most receive now is I believe very important.

I cannot think of any reason anybody would think it was a good idea to leave their kids with people who were underpaid for the work they do generally causing them to burn out, be resentful and not have the passion they need for this kind of work. So why not support the people who look after your best asset!

If they are paid well, given good support, good hours, low ratios they should and generally do in my experience repay that ten fold in loyalty and a real demonstration of pride and sense of ownership in the business.

These are the people I want looking after my child ! Someone who is passionate about their work and knows they are well compensated for their efforts.

So a centre that is charging another $1 or $2 per hour and can provide a better wage to their staff I believe is doing the right thing by all parties…. Staff, parents and most importantly the children they look after 50 hours a week !!

After that little rant… that brings the question around… what are we willing to pay… $1 an hour more… $2 and hour more…?

astrojax said :

centre… 🙂

I take your point, but the little red squiggly line in the text box was arguing with me and I was too tired to argue back.

Mothy said :

You’re allowed to have your preferred center, sure, but putting your name down only there and nowhere else is planning to fail.

I saw someone comment that a “booking is a booking” – putting your name down is NOT a booking. It is expressing a wish to attend that center.

Most, if not all, centers will give preference to siblings (rightly so, as a parent that has to do a drop off at two centres will consolidate ASAP – if you don’t accept their sibling, they’ll take the child you do have out when a spot becomes available elsewhere).

Centers also need to juggle days – not everyone is Monday-Friday, 9-5, one size does not fit all – and this can mean they’re looking for someone on the list who’s preferences or flexibility matches the availability they have.

On timing: your timetable for when you plan to return to work is just that, yours.

There’s a logical reason everyone keeps talking about January as the month offers of care come out – the older kids in the center will be leaving to start school, so space becomes available in the pre-school rooms. Toddlers already enrolled at that center move up to pre-school, making room in the toddler rooms. A couple of babies move up to the toddlers rooms from the babies room and MAYBE a space becomes available in the toddler rooms or the babies room.

Oh, and one last – if you get a place, and you like it, as a courtesy contact the other centers you had your name down at and let them know you can come off the list. Saves them time and money later.

centre… 🙂

My experience – it’s easier to get a full time spot than part time. I was on maybe 7 or 8 waiting lists when I was looking for a spot for Mr 8 when I returned to work part time. I did get a spot 2 days a week at a centre that left a lot to be desired. When I decided to go full time I had my pick of 3 really good centres. Not sure your location but a new centre has opened up in Gungahlin near the hardware store. Good luck!

You’re allowed to have your preferred center, sure, but putting your name down only there and nowhere else is planning to fail.

I saw someone comment that a “booking is a booking” – putting your name down is NOT a booking. It is expressing a wish to attend that center.

Most, if not all, centers will give preference to siblings (rightly so, as a parent that has to do a drop off at two centres will consolidate ASAP – if you don’t accept their sibling, they’ll take the child you do have out when a spot becomes available elsewhere).

Centers also need to juggle days – not everyone is Monday-Friday, 9-5, one size does not fit all – and this can mean they’re looking for someone on the list who’s preferences or flexibility matches the availability they have.

On timing: your timetable for when you plan to return to work is just that, yours.

There’s a logical reason everyone keeps talking about January as the month offers of care come out – the older kids in the center will be leaving to start school, so space becomes available in the pre-school rooms. Toddlers already enrolled at that center move up to pre-school, making room in the toddler rooms. A couple of babies move up to the toddlers rooms from the babies room and MAYBE a space becomes available in the toddler rooms or the babies room.

Oh, and one last – if you get a place, and you like it, as a courtesy contact the other centers you had your name down at and let them know you can come off the list. Saves them time and money later.

The sibling preference is a good idea. But even with that we had to accept places for our second and third child in January, even tho going back to work was not until later in the year.

Also I wanted a child already at the centre to get an extra day – it never happened until Janaury rolled around – even as an existing customer they could get us another day until someone left, and no one left. =

The smaller, better centres are very hard to get into, and even as existing customers it is hard to pick up days or add new kids.

I agree that siblings should be given preference. Could think of nothing worse than having to drop off kids at two different centres. Providing a status of where you are on the list would be good, you are 100th on the list but please remember not all parents accept a place and we expect 10 spots to open up. Set the expectation.