WA based provider offers ‘free care for a year’ for six families across its network

Incentives and inducements are back in the broader early childhood education and care (ECEC) conversation with the announcement by Western Australian provider Treasured Tots that it will offer six families free ECEC for a year. 

The Federal Government announced important changes to the incentive and inducements space in 2022, outlawing the offering of electronics, holidays and other gifts to encourage parents to enrol or take up more days. 

The offering of free care was not outlawed, however the Government reminded providers that fee discounts must still be reported correctly if any child care subsidy (CCS) was being claimed. 

Treasured Tots owner Simone O’Brien has six ECEC services throughout the metropolitan Perth area, and told local media source Perth Now that she has become acutely aware how much the cost-of-living crisis is affecting the families who use her services.

“Over the past six to 12 months, we have noticed that a lot of families are struggling to make ends meet,” Ms O’Brien said. “One of the things we hear a lot from parents is that they need childcare (sic.) and they need to work. But the cost of that extra day of childcare outweighs any benefit from working.”

Winners will be given free care for two days a week, valued at an estimated $15,000 per family (total value $90,000) with the winners chosen randomly.

“I just want them (our families) to know they are not alone,” Ms O’Brien said. “We are all in this together. We just want to support our families and their children the best way we can.”

Further information about the competition is available here. Read the original coverage of this story here.