NOSHSA News

New DEEWR Child Care Provider Survey – Vacation Care Component

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) will shortly be conducting the Vacation Care component of the Australian Government Child Care Provider Survey (AGCCPS).

Why is this survey being conducted?

The purpose of this survey is to collect important information on child care in Australia that is not available from other sources such as the Child Care Management System (CCMS). The information that services provide will be extremely valuable in strengthening the evidence base for the development of child care policies and programs. The survey will collect data on a number of important topics including children with additional needs and information on staff qualifications and experience. By providing this information, services will also be helping to ensure that current and future policies are responsive to the needs of services, children and families.

Which services will be included?

The first phase of this survey was completed in late 2008/early 2009 and included a sample of Australian Government approved services.

This phase of the survey will include a random sample of approximately 60% of Australian Government approved Vacation Care services. Data will be collected at different times for each state and territory due to variations in school holiday periods. The data collection periods are:

Tasmania June 8 - July 19
Northern Territory June 29 - July 10
Victoria July 6 - July 17
Queensland July 6 - July 17
South Australia July 13 - July 24
Western Australia July 13 - July 24
Australian Capital Territory July 13 - July 24
New South Wales July 20 - July 31

Services that have been selected to participate in the survey have been sent a letter informing them that the survey will be taking place and providing details of how to complete the survey.

All selected services are required to complete the survey as specified in Section 5.4 of the Child Care Service Handbook 2008-2009 or CCMS Child Care Service Handbook 2007- 08.

What is the process for completing the survey?

The Department has engaged the research organisation Instinct and Reason to undertake the survey on their behalf. Instinct and Reason have set up a secure online form for services to complete the survey. Where services cannot complete the survey online they will be given the option of completing via telephone.

The questionnaire will require approximately 45 minutes to complete depending on the size of the service, with some extra preparation required.

How will data from this survey be disseminated?

To ensure the privacy of families and staff, names will not be provided to the Department and statistics will not be published or disseminated in a manner that is likely to enable the identification of a particular individual or service.

Data tables based on the information collected in the first phase of the survey are now available on the Department’s website at the following address:

www.deewr.gov.au/EarlyChildhood/Resources/Pages/ChildCareProviderSurvey.aspx

These tables contain data that supplements the information available in the Productivity Commissions’ Report on Government Services (ROGS).

Queries?

If you have any queries about this survey please contact the Department at childcare.census@deewr.gov.au.