Thousands of South Australian families will benefit from a State Government decision to reverse a plan to privatise Family Day Care and Respite Care services.

In 2019, the Marshall Liberal government sought to transfer the management of both services to a private provider, sparking serious concerns about the level of care that would be delivered and fears of spiralling costs.

The former government’s plan was only stalled due to COVID-19 – Labor is now delivering on its election promise to reverse the measure, which was set to have a devastating impact on the families who rely on it.

The Department for Education will remain as the approved provider of these essential services – helping some of our most vulnerable children – across the state.

Family Day Care is a home-based childcare and education service run by qualified private educators, who look after a small group of children in their own home.

Respite Care is a disability care service for children and young people, offering parents and carers a break.

About 430 educators offer care to around 4000 children in South Australia, with the Department providing ongoing support to ensure high-quality national standards are met.

Quotes

Attributable to Minister for Education Blair Boyer

These crucial services are vital for parents and children and we’re pleased they’ll remain affordable to all families.

The push to privatise by the former government would have hurt parents who rely on this much-need service while risking the high level of care currently provided to children.

It was a blatant cost-cutting measure set to deliver a cruel blow to thousands of South Australian families – thankfully that’s been avoided as part of our commitment to deliver on election promises.

We look forward to continuing to support an industry that plays such a pivotal role in developing the next generation.