Burnett parents and guardians are being asked by the ACCC for their views on Australian childcare services.
This is part of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s year-long inquiry into the sector.
Parents and guardians are invited to complete a short online survey to share their experiences when looking for and using childcare services in Australia.
The ACCC is seeking to understand people’s preferences when it comes to childcare, including whether there are potential barriers to accessing the right types of childcare and whether childcare services are affordable.
The perspectives of parents and guardians who don’t currently use childcare will also be useful to the ACCC’s inquiry.
“Affordable, accessible and quality childcare is crucial for Australian families and the health of the Australian economy, including by supporting higher levels of participation in work and training,” ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said.
“We want to hear directly from parents and guardians so our work on the Childcare inquiry can provide a complete picture of the factors impacting the price and availability of childcare in Australia.”
The survey asks about preferences and experiences when looking for childcare including how parents and guardians evaluated different childcare services, how many waitlists they joined, and whether waiting for a place delayed return to employed work, volunteering or study.
The ACCC is also interested in hearing from those who may have switched childcare services and the reasons for this.
“We want this report to reflect the diverse needs and experiences of families across the country,” Ms Cass-Gottlieb said.
“First Nations families, culturally and linguistically diverse families and parents and carers of children with a disability or complex needs are strongly encouraged to take part.”
The survey is open until 31 May 2023 and can be completed anonymously.
Information collected from this survey will shape the ACCC’s reports due to the Treasurer on 30 June and 31 December 2023.
The online survey can be accessed here: consultation.accc.gov.au/accc/parents-and-guardians-childcare-survey/
Parents and carers from linguistically diverse communities who would like help understanding and responding to the survey can call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450.
