Cost of child care in Queensland continues to stay low

Fees for child care in Queensland continue to remain among the lowest in Australia, a new report shows.

The annual Report on Government Services 2007, produced by the Productivity Commission, shows that Queensland continues to have one of the lowest real average fees for government-funded services (based on 50 hours of care).

Queensland’s average fee for centre-based long day care services was $215, just one dollar more than the lowest fee of $214 (in the Northern Territory).

Total Queensland Government expenditure on child care and preschool services for each child was $266.49 in 2005–06, well ahead of the national average of $191.94.

Queensland recorded the second highest percentage of accredited centres that have been fully assessed under the Quality Improvement and Accreditation System, coming in at 97.8 per cent (compared with the highest figure of 98.0 per cent in Victoria)

Queensland Minister for Communities Warren Pitt said the data reflected the government’s commitment to ensuring children were cared for properly during their early years.

“The Queensland Government and the community have high expectations and standards for the child care sector in this state and independent reports such as this show that these standards are being met,” he said.

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