OSHC in the Media
For media comment:
Robyn Monro Miller
Chief Executive Officer, Network of Community Activities
02 9212 3244 or email: robyn@networkofcommunityactivities.org.au
Outside of office hours please contact 0403 028 781
September 2017
Parent Power Stops Child Care Merger (Radio)
http://www.2gb.com/podcast/parent-power-stops-child-care-merger/
August 2017
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-10/accc-concerned-after-school-care-merger-fees/8794698
July 2017
June 2017
April 2017 Booming school populations
June 2016 Importance of Play Blog
http://www.importanceofplay.eu/blog/article/grown-ups-keep-out-the-importance
April 2016
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-06/claims-school-after-care-is-being-used-as-cash-cow/7305548
November 2015
September 2015
http://www.southernhighlandnews.com.au/story/3389975/oosh-care-cash-splash-dashed/
Solutions posed to ease before and after school care waiting lists in Eastwood
Kate Bastians
Northern District Times
September 30, 2014
More attention needed for before and after-school care: National Foundation for Australian Women
Judith Ireland
Sydney Morning Herald
September 9, 2014
Northern beaches schools are seeing an increasing demand for after school care
Julie Cross
Manly Daily
August 11, 2014
Parents using teachers as babysitters
Alexandra Smith
Sydney Morning Herald
July 27, 2014
www.smh.com.au/national/education/parents-using-teachers-as-babysitters-20140726-zwq3w.html
System is Failing our Children
Letters
Sydney Morning Herald
July 7, 2014
www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/system-is-failing-our-children-20130706-2piit.html
Principals cash in on after-school care
Alexandra Smith and Amy McNeilage
Sydney Morning Herald
July 3, 2014
www.smh.com.au/nsw/principals-cash-in-on-afterschool-care-20140704-zsuvs.html
After school care ‘crisis’: Alliance targets NSW Government over shortage of places in Sydney
Rebecca Barrett
ABC News
April 9, 2014
www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-08/alliance-highlights-after-school-care-crisis-in-sydney/5376190
Networking to promote Child Safe Culture
January 2014
https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news/networking-to-promote-child-safe-cultures
Boom in demand for after hours school care
Katherine Danks
The Daily Telegraph
November 3, 2012
Podrights 19: The right for kids to play
Australian Human Rights Commission – Children’s Right to Play
Monday 21 October 2013
https://www.humanrights.gov.au/news/podrights/podrights-19-right-kids-play
Government spends $450m on after hours school care
Judith Ireland and Daniel Hurst
Sydney Morning Herald
August 5, 2013
ASU supports the Rudd announcement on out of school hours care
Media Release
Australian Services Union
August 6, 2013
www.asu.asn.au/news/categories/localgovt/130806-out-of-school-hours-care
Increased investment in Outside School Hours Care welcomed
Media Release
Early Childhood Australia
Monday 5 August 2013
Out of hours care will help working parents: ACTU
Media Release
Australian Council of Trade Unions
05 August, 2013
www.actu.org.au/Media/Mediareleases/OutofhourscarewillhelpworkingparentsACTU.aspx
Measures to improve out of school hours care
Jordanna Schriever
THE Adelaide Advertiser
July 22, 2013
System is failing our children
Sydney Morning Herald
Comments
Robyn Monro Miller
July 7, 2013
www.smh.com.au/comment/smh-letters/system-is-failing-our-children-20130706-2piit.html
Rudd commits $450m to out-of-school care
Briana Everett
Women’s Agenda
August 05, 2013
ALP pledges $450m for school care
Ben Packam
THE Australian
August 05, 2013
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd pledges $450m to extend school-based care for working parents
Jessica Marszalek and Sarah Blake
News Limited Network
August 05, 2013
Pitch to working parents with $450m for after-hours
Patricia Karvelas
The Australian
August 06, 2013
ALP offers $450 million for child care
Nine News
3:52pm August 5, 2013
news.ninemsn.com.au/national/2013/08/05/15/11/alp-offers-450-million-for-child-care
Out-of-school care available in Nundle
Alena Nickell
Northern Daily Leader
September 13, 2013
www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/1772993/out-of-school-care-available-in-nundle/
Federal Election 2013: Better Schools, Before and After
Hills News
August 7, 2013
www.hillsnews.com.au/story/1689298/federal-election-2013-better-schools-before-and-after/
Hidden crisis in before- and after-school care
Editorial
Sydney Morning Herald
July 6, 2013
After-school care crisis hits working parents
Amy McNeilage
Sydney Morning Herald
July 1, 2013
www.smh.com.au/nsw/afterschool-care-crisis-hits-working-parents-20130701-2p7m6.html
Parents’ 3am queues for care places
Bruce McDougall
Daily Telegraph
September 24th, 2012
www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting/parents-3am-queues-for-care-places/story-fnet085v-1226479789333
OSHC Employee Pleads Guilty to Sexual Abuse
It is with great sadness we advise that a former member of the OSHC profession in NSW has pleaded guilty to sexual abuse charges. The details of the charges are available on the media websites.
This is a very sad and disappointing day for our sector and we feel for the victims and their families. We also extend our compassion and support to the many others who have suffered as a result of the actions of this person.
The impact of child abuse has a ripple effect and it can create a lot of angst and sadness for other families who used the service, team mates, fellow educators and indeed for our profession.
It is important to note that the offences did not all occur at the OSHC service and the offender had close and sustained contact with children in a variety of informal setting outside of the service environment where ‘grooming behaviour’ took place prior to the committing of offences.
Many services will be faced with questions and concerns from children and families about what went wrong and what could have been done to prevent it.
Network has produced a fact sheet on sexual grooming behaviour and this is available to assist you to support staff and families in your service.
Because offenders may not enter an organisation with the explicit goal of abusing children, the focus should be on designing environments that limit the opportunities for anyone to abuse children.
The establishment of clear policy and procedures for the conduct of staff and volunteers in the service supports the maintenance of clear boundaries. The service policy should identify guidelines for staff that prevent them practicing any behaviours that may constitute ‘grooming’. A zero tolerance approach to grooming behaviours should be employed at the service. Most service polices and procedures create an environment that provides little opportunity for infiltration by a sexual abuser.
As we enter into a new period of regulations we are reminded of how important it is to have these regulations support our practice. Our child safe – child friendly policy requirement, the working with children check sand clearances and the mandatory child protection training for certified supervisors are all integral to maintaining this high standard of provision.
OSHC services are safe environments for children – we have as a sector an impeccable track record in provision of healthy and safe environments for children. Our OSHC Educators are important role models and significant people in the lives of children and we must stand proud of that reputation.
Each day Network hear inspiring stories of the wonderful contributions staff make to the lives of children and their families – stay strong in that commitment, continue to do do what we all do best providing supportive inspiring and caring environment for the children of NSW.
Download sexual grooming fact sheet for OOSH services >>
Download sexual grooming fact sheet for families >>
added: 24/08/2012
Guidelines say more play in after school care
Radio Program from the World Today
Liv Casben
March 19, 2012
www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2010/s2911945.htm
Playing by the rules makes prisoners of children
Cassandra Wilkinson
The Australian
October 22, 2011
Let the children play, new national guidelines advise
Elisabeth Tarica
The Age
October 10, 2011