Cafe Studies

Cafe Chat Discussion

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  Anonymous
  Posted on:
  25th May 2007 12:54pm
  
  Last Post 25th Aug 2010
  Replies     182

  Discussion: Childcare

  As mums we continually hear of childcare shortage. What's your story? Are you a stay at home mum? Struggled to find care? Or found care easily and straight away? Have you had to change your original plans due to lack of childcare? Plus any tips for mum's who are struggling to find care?

  
  
  

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  etch
  Posted on:
  28th May 2007 02:45pm

  etch says: Often the expense of childcare limits the accessibility to some parents. It is more economical for some parents to live off one income than place child/children in care. Low income families are disadvantaged, especially if the parent is trying to seek further education/training.
  
  

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  Sim-one
  Posted on:
  28th May 2007 03:00pm

  Sim-one says: In my situation, if I was to go back to work part-time and pay for 3 days of childcare, I end up with less money than we have now. I'm better off staying at home and minding my child while we go to 1 wage. Plus good childcare in the SEQ area is so hard to find!
  
  

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  Sim-one
  Posted on:
  31st May 2007 05:52am

  Sim-one says: I would like to go back to work on a part-time/casual basis to keep my skills up and also for that adult interaction. The money side wouldn't be such a problem except for that pesky mortgage that seems to weigh over our heads.
  SEQ= South East Queensland, sorry about the abbreviation.
  Around the area, childcare costs upwards of $55 a day, if you can get in. Ideally if I could find a job that lets me works nights while my husband looks after our child, that would be ideal.
  
  

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  halle
  Posted on:
  5th Jun 2007 07:36pm

  halle says: Would prefer to be a stay at home mum.
  
  

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  bronnie
  Posted on:
  7th Jun 2007 08:26am

  bronnie says: Eventually i would like to go to work. My husband is putting the pressure on me to go back. My baby is 4 months old and m breastfeeding him. It would cost half my wages to pay for daycare and i dont think its worth it. Id prefer to work nights or weekends. The childcare would cost total a week $265 and id be left with $220.
  
  

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  rosey80
  Posted on:
  7th Jun 2007 12:29pm

  rosey80 says: I was in the same boat 3 years ago. Then one of the mums at my work got me onto family daycare. It is cheap and they are very flexible. Also, the child is in a small group so they have better interaction and don't get lost in the crowd. I know that there is family daycare available in Ipswich as my mums friend is one. There is always spots available as not many people are aware of them. So if you do return to work part-time, the fees won't eat in to your earnings.
  
  

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  nomad
  Posted on:
  7th Jun 2007 02:10pm

  nomad says: Hi I work part time for a supermarket chain and have only just decide to put my oldest in child care 1 day a week, but just for 1 day it will cost us $17.00 plus $37 security bond and that's with the government's Child care Benefit taken of the original costs. I've only just done this as my 3 yr old is getting to much of a handful for my in laws to watch both of them when I'm at work as our youngest is only 10months old. When I went back to work after my first I didn't put her in child care then as my pay would have gone straight in child care fees and petrol so it wouldn't have been worth me working at all. It depends on your financial situation whether you can afford child care or not and that's why we can only just start to afford child care now but only for one of our children. We were lucky that 1 of the centres we were interested in had a vacancy but most centres are full to capaicty with a waiting list for most age groups. As if we were to put our son in at the same centre then he'd have to go on a waiting list as the babies room is full. My daughter got the last spot in the pre kindy room at the centre that she is going to.
  
  

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  chill
  Posted on:
  7th Jun 2007 04:23pm

  chill says: Well earlier this year my 2yo started chilcare 1 day a week, sinply because I needed a break and he needed the social stills learned from spending time with other kids. As for having to wait, I didn't because I picked a less busy day (I had the option to do that) and we qualify for 100% of the childcare benefit so it only costs me around $20per day.
  
  

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  MonkeyDLuffy
  Posted on:
  17th Jul 2007 06:28pm

  MonkeyDLuffy says: South East Queensland
  
  

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  Tan
  Posted on:
  12th Jun 2008 10:17pm

  Tan says: I would love to be an stay at home Mum as I believe you only get to enjoy that moment of having them little once and with my two kids 7 & 2 I barely get to see them I drop themoff at 8 and pick them up at 5.30 we get home by 6.30 and 7.30/8.00 is bed time. Wheres the quality time there. We are lucky that we found a locally owned centre and pay $48 per day before the CCB. I know that others charge a huge amount more and it's a big dip out of any working parents wage. It also makes a big difference if you go over the 50 hrs care which the government allows you if you work fulltime. Most centres charge you for a full 12 hour day regardless of how long your child is actually there. So 5 days x 12 hours is 60 hrs. You end up paying quite a lot more for the extra 10 hrs your not rebated on.
  
  

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