Consultants to review departmental child care services

20/11/94

Consultants have been employed to do a complete review of the Department for Community Development's contribution to child care in Western Australia.

They will also examine how a more comprehensive service could be provided to parents of young children.

Community Development Minister Roger Nicholls announced the review today and said it would be conducted jointly by Bandt Gatter and The Boshe Group.

The terms of reference included an examination of the advantages and disadvantages of children's services' funds being administered by either the Commonwealth or State Government alone as opposed to a joint planning and administrative arrangement.

The review would also advise on the needs in the community for child care and services to assist in early childhood development of 0-4 year olds, including documentation of resources, facilities and programs available, and possible models for consideration in the future provision of services and use of resources.

The review will document the roles of the Children's Services staff in the Department for Community Development and recommend how they, and other departmental resources, could best support the proposed models for the provision of services in the future.

Finally, the review will report on the operation of the Child Care Services Board with regard to its role, efficiency, quality of service and level of resources.

Mr Nicholls said that the review would start in December and would be completed by March 31 next year.

He expected it would provide new options for the community to consider in relation to family support, child care, and early childhood development.

Media contact:  Hugh Ryan 221 5468