Comments on: Not as easy as ABC

By: The Seventh Down Under Feminists’ Carnival « Ideologically Impure

The Seventh Down Under Feminists’ Carnival « Ideologically Impure — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 05:04:23 +0000

[...] you throw in a bit of capital-accrual-obsessed monopolization of the childcare industry, it’s Not as easy as ABC, skepticlawyer notes. Throw in “classy” all-boys schools teaching “Christian [...]

By: Dave Bath

Dave Bath — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:00:35 +0000

There are obviously ideas and feelings here, so I'll mention the new senate inquiry into childcare here closing 2008-01-30. the financial, social and industry impact of the ABC Learning collapse on the provision of child care in Australia; alternative options and models for the provision of child care; the role of governments at all levels in:funding for community, not-for-profit and independent service providers, consistent regulatory frameworks for child care across the country, licensing requirements to operate child care centres, nationally-consistent training and qualification requirements for child care workers, and the collection, evaluation and publishing of reliable, up-to-date data on casual and permanent child care vacancies; the feasibility for establishing a national authority to oversee the child care industry in Australia; and other related matters.

By: Easy as A-B-C

Easy as A-B-C — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:39:31 +0000

[...] and the reason I haven’t written about it here is that I’ve been engaged on other blogs (and more I can’t be bothered linking to), either as reader or participant. There are several [...]

By: skepticlawyer » Monopolies by ‘creeping acquisition’ to be legislated against

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:45:05 +0000

[...] on the heels of the collapse of the ABC Learning empire, the Federal Government has heralded plans to overhaul unfair competition laws dealing with [...]

By: Legal Eagle

Legal Eagle — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:50:58 +0000

Pedro, unfortunately a lot of people behave like idiots as soon as you announce you are a lawyer. Or they start telling you about their fencing dispute that has lasted for 20 years…

You are right that community based care doesn’t guarantee good care. I seem to recall that our school council had political battles between parents who were more concerned about staking out some kind of power domain than about providing quality stuff for kids. Then there were others who genuinely put in a lot of work because they cared.

The paradigm of community focussed care that doesn’t really work are the kinds of services provided in communist systems, as you say.

The key, whether one is motivated by profit or by other desires, is to focus on providing a quality service rather than to get sidetracked by those other motives. It’s when you forget what you’re there for that problems arise.

By: pedro

pedro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 04:13:04 +0000

I’m not sure that the childcare subsidy is any different from a voucher. I thought the centre only gets money for the children they have, so if you move your child the subsidy does with it. Which would is different from, say, universities, which get funding to offer a certain number of places.

Also, the total number of childcare places is not (yet) capped, so new entrants can come in and compete. Given the subsidy, it is perhaps easier to compete on quality because childcare is relatively more affordable.

By: skepticlawyer

skepticlawyer — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:56:58 +0000

Jason Soon's boss has an interesting proposal to make use of existing capacity within the school system, coupled with a voucherised form of support. It still doesn't deal with the fact that it actually may be very difficult to provide childcare either within or outside the market. Vouchers help deal with the anti-competitive aspects of a direct subsidy (the origin of ABC's troubles, and their subsequent domination of marketshare). Although, at 25%, they were clearly not a monopoly.

By: Adrien

Adrien — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:53:44 +0000

Like I said Pedro I don’t know. A lot of friends are in the process of reproducing. Generally I stay away from them for 18 months after this happens. Then tend to speak baby-goo-goo all the time.

Those kindy people sound like right wankers.

By: pedro

pedro — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 04:47:28 +0000

Well you should have read on Adrien. Why don’t childcare operators think the same as me? Do you know if they don’t? The for-profit centre my daughters go seem pretty conscientious about making sure we are happy with the care.

A profit focus does not necessarily lead to cost skimping. The lack of a profit focus does not guarantee love for the kiddies and sensible cost decisions.

Next year the elder girl is moving to a community kindy. It’s no cheaper. Though apparently at the meet and greet my wife was asked what I do, “a solicitor” she said, “what, not a partner?” was the response. So I guess we’re going to have to put up with few dickheads.

By: Adrien

Adrien — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:23:15 +0000

I guess that’s why Mercedes make such bad cars and Ladas were so good!
.
That’s a spurious example Pedro. Cars can be made for various budgets. Those who want a higher quality car (or one they think is so) can spend more. You have to get a pretty cheap car before you’ve got a shitbox.
.
Child care has certain basic requirements. The question is can you fulfil these and still make money.

With respect to child care I don’t know. But with public transport – no.