With Tasmanian school children set to return to school next month, many families are scratching their heads about a lack of available after school care.
This dilemma is only making the cost-of-living crisis worse, with parents having to cut work hours short to pick up the kids from school.
Helping Tasmanian families deal with the cost-of-living crisis is Labor’s number one priority, and it’s why we’ve committed to extending out of hours school care in 10 locations across the state.
Our consultation with the sector found that if providers are assisted with upfront costs – such as equipment, administration and facility upgrades – private and not-for-profits will extend after school care into new areas they wouldn’t have otherwise been able to enter.
Thrive Group is one such provider who has expressed interest in expanding its services to more of regional Tasmania through Labor’s program.
Labor’s plan to extend out-of-hours care will be beneficial for childhood development, as well as workforce participation.
The commitment comes as part of a larger package to ease the costs parents face with education and training, which also includes increasing childcare subsidies for TAFE students, automatically allowing parents to pay school fees quarterly rather than all at once and providing more support to get kids playing sport.
After 10 years in office, the Liberals have left Tasmanians paying the price for their complete inaction on skyrocketing cost-of-living pressures.
Labor’s plan will be good for kids, good for parents, and importantly, good for family budgets.
Rebecca White MP
Tasmanian Labor Leader
Josh Willie MLC
Shadow Minister for Education and Early Years
