Is childcare or early learning unaffordable or inaccessible for your family?

Do you know anyone who has left the workforce after having kids because “after the cost of childcare it wasn't worthwhile to continue to work”?  Or because they couldn’t find affordable quality care?

The cost of quality childcare – home care, day care, after school care and vacation care – is a key issue for Australia’s working families and for working women in particular.

And of course it's a big issue for our kids.

To:  The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Minister for the Status of Women, and        The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families Dear Ministers The cost and availability of childcare and early learning is a big issue for Australian families and is having a serious, enduring and cumulative impact on family budgets, the careers of Australian women and the development and wellbeing of our children.   I’m asking you to: expand existing childcare rebates and support to include not only day care centres but also in-home care and out-of-school hours care, providing greater support and choice for Australian families increase the level of childcare support by Governments, recognising the real cost of care has risen significantly and needs to be addressed to give parents the financial incentive to return to work simplify the processes for parents to find quality childcare and receive childcare benefits, including exploration of potential benefits of tax deductibility of childcare. This will legitimize the cost of care for working families and carers in Australia, providing true choice to families on childcare options, and remove a significant structural barrier to full workforce participation for all Australians. * Required Full Name * Email Address * Postcode * Enter Word Verification in box below * Your comments on this issue       "As a father of 2, my wife and i both work to afford to pay the mortgage and provide for the family. the financial burden of child care to give us the working flexibility is huge" - Simon ---------- "Many jobs require us parents to do rotating rosters and be flexible in the days we can work. Finding childcare at short notice to meet this need is impossible. Please make in-home childcare tax deductable and increase the range and variety of employment options available to working parents." - Nicole