WOB supports NSW Premier's before and after school care plan

Women on Boards has welcomed the NSW Premier’s $120 million commitment to make before and after school care available to public primary schools by 2021.

Summary

WOB supports NSW Premier’s before and after school care plan Women on Boards has welcomed the NSW Premier’s $120 million commitment to make before and after school care available to public primary schools by 2021.

The co-founders of Women on Boards, Claire Braund and Ruth Medd, said the commitment by Gladys Berejiklian over the weekend could be a game changer for women and a break-through in the thorny issue of closing the gender pay gap.

This announcement by the Premier is significant and very welcome. Lack of before and after school care has been a major irritant for parents and carers - mothers in particular - for way too long, ”Ms Medd and Ms Braund said today. “Many families have struggled with the 9am -3pm school hours and the lack of appropriate onsite childcare for even an hour or so either side of school drop off and pick up times.”

“In most cases, something has to give - and usually it’s the women’s job that is either scaled back to part-time or given up entirely, with the consequent impact of reduced job prospects, fewer opportunities for promotion, lower pay and less retirement savings.”

The WOB duo said they, alongside the National Foundation for Australian Women, had been actively advocating for many years for more supportive before and after care services, including making submissions to the Productivity Commission and lobbying politicians.