20,000 signatures needed - it takes 2 minutes

I run DIAL-AN-ANGEL. We have just celebrated our 45th Anniversary in business. We have been attempting to get the Government to give our clients choice and provide a rebate for in home professional childcare, disability care and elder care since the 1970′s. People are paying for this service from their after tax income. If people registered their nannies for the rebate, it would stop the cash economy and hence the Government would be receiving extra PAYG from those who have not previously declared the payments.

Women will not advance into leadership / board positions if they are not provided with affordable and available professional childcare. All we are asking is for some equity and choice for our clients who would like to have an inhome professional childcarer care for their young children. What about people who do shiftwork? What happens when the children are sick and can’t go to day care? What happens if you want your children to have one-to-one care vs 1 to 4. It’s time for the Government to sit up and take notice.

Clients still need to use a reputable Agency (where the worker has been fully screened and interviewed) and not just some on line portal where cheap childcare options are available. We have developed a petition on www.makecarefair.com.au and need 20000 signatures to then lobby the Govt. This is a serious issue and needs to be addressed.

This is needed for ALL in home care not just childcare. I was indeed fortunate to have a professional child carer look after my own two children for 11 years. They are well adjusted children who were provided with the very best care available. We have many many clients who would be back in the workforce full time if a professional childcarer in the home had the same rebate as a childcare centre or family day care. The majority of our clients use our services on a part time basis (2 – 3 days a week).