Patrick McClure, Ethics Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact, University of NSW
The importance of childcare and early childhood development cannot be overstated. Most of our development as individuals takes place in early childhood.
Research shows that it is from birth to age five that children rapidly develop the foundations on which subsequent development builds.
The increase in working parents in Australia has highlighted the importance of affordable, accessible and quality child-care services. It also raises an ethical dilemma.
Is child care about quality of services that includes higher staff-child ratios and better qualified staff?
Or is child care a corporate business making large profits and returns for investors? Or is it a mix of quality services and profitable business?….
It is a consortium of non-profit organisations with funding from the federal government, non-profit partners, high-net-worth individuals, foundations and a bank loan. One hopes that it will be successful in providing the affordable, accessible and quality care that Australian children deserve.