The NSW government will use improved access to childcare as an economic lever by unveiling a $5 billion decade-long funding boost aimed at getting more parents back to work.
The changes could save families up to $3900 a year per child while prompting another 95,000 women to enter the workforce or take on more hours, according to government estimates. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said his policy, worth $775 million over the next four years and $5 billion over a decade, was “transformational” and would lower the barriers some parents, especially women, faced in returning to work.
Under the plan to be announced next Tuesday, the government will create an ″Affordable and Accessible Childcare and Economic Participation Fund″ which will distribute grants to expand or build new centres. The fund will encourage childcare centre owners to build in so-called ″childcare deserts″ or areas that are underserved or have a shortfall of places.