• Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Write for Australian Women Online
  • Advertise With Us
  • Horoscopes
  • Style
  • Shoe Boutique
  • eFashion
  • Weight Watchers Australia

Australian Women Online

Business, career, health and lifestyle content for women

  • Home
  • BLOG
  • BOOKS
  • BUSINESS
  • CAREER
  • COOKING
  • HEALTH
  • LIFESTYLE
    • Automotive
    • Beauty
    • Fashion
    • Pets
    • Relationships
    • Your Home
    • Your Money
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • TRAVEL
    • Discount Holidays
You are here: Home / LIFESTYLE / Parenting / New research shows using childcare is a necessity rather than a choice

New research shows using childcare is a necessity rather than a choice

23 March 2008 by Australian Women Online

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • More
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp

Two in three Australians would stay at home to look after their children if they could afford it, and a further 11 per cent are “undecided” over the issue, new research from BankWest has found.

The findings suggest the high cost of living and our expectations of a modern lifestyle are the main problems facing families today.

According to the 2006 Census, 1.7 million of the 2.3 million Australian families with children have both parents at work. The BankWest research found the majority of Australian families have no choice but to use childcare in order to meet financial responsibilities placing extra burden on already stretched childcare resources. And one in five families say the high cost of childcare has prevented them from having more children, while almost half believe they are spending too much.

“The results suggest that we are longing to return to a simpler age, where a parent was at home – usually a mum,” Selina Duncalf, BankWest’s head of strategy and products said.

According to the research, there is a small slice of society (almost 2 per cent) which spends up to a staggering $800 per week on childcare. The average weekly spend on childcare was $174 while 57 per cent spend up to $200. A further 19 per cent spend up to $400, while 7 per cent spend up to $600.

The groups who spend more than $200 are generally those with more children in care, are on a higher income or are using nannies to deliver their care. Ironically, while most families believe their childcare costs are too expensive, they also want to see wages for childcare workers increased potentially lifting their costs.

The majority of Australian families use long day care (55 per cent) followed by occasional care (23 per cent), family (22 per cent), family daycare (14 per cent) and private nanny (5 per cent).

A quarter of parents use childcare for three days per week, while 22 per cent use it for five days, another 22 per cent for two days followed by 16 per cent with one day, and 14 per cent for four days per week.

Other interesting facts:

  • More than half believe government rebates are insufficient.
  • More than 57 per cent believe the government should be doing more to subsidise childcare.
  • More than 42 per cent found it difficult to secure a childcare place.
  • The majority of Australians surveyed (82.1 per cent) said they were happy with the level of care.  For the remainder who are unhappy, most of them referred to the childcare staff as the main reason for their concern.

Ms Duncalf says the day of the SuperMum may have passed. 

“Are the number of women who want everything – a family and a full-on career dwindling? Is there a new conservatism brewing in our suburbs where the appeal of family life over the pressures of work and the corporate world is returning?”

 AAP

You May Also Like:

Filed Under: Parenting

Ads by Google
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

New Content

  • Why Online Casinos Are Becoming a Favourite Pastime for Modern Women
  • Is 2025’s Ford Maverick the Ideal Urban Truck?
  • Australian Lifestyle: The Rise of High-End Condo Communities
  • Off-Road Driving: 10 Amazing Trails in the US to Explore
  • Your Guide to Buy DMT or Magic Mushrooms Online in Australia
  • How to Become a Trusted Home Care Provider in Australia (and Simplify Your Operations in 2025)
  • Empowering Women Through Fashion Entrepreneurship: How Custom Caps Become Catalysts for Change
  • How to Ladder Your Term Deposits for Maximum Flexibility & Returns
  • Women in Wagering: How the Industry is Finally Tapping Female Players
  • Demolition Safety: 10 Essential Safety Tips and Guidelines

Popular Content

  • Moore Weekly Stars
  • Advertise with Australian Women Online
  • Sass & Bide Elegance In Flight Relaxed Fit Short Sleeve Tee Ivory
  • Tigerlily Zoayla Mini Dress
  • CHARLES & KEITH Glitter Sole Slingback Sneakers
  • French Connection Silver Metallic Pleated Skirt
  • Rip Curl Lake Shore Shift Dress Liliac
  • Fashion: Save Coin with Prom Dresses for Sale Online
  • CHARLES & KEITH Large Geometric Handbag
  • French Connection Intarsia Lurex Knit

Australian Women Online © Copyright 2007 - 2025 Deborah Robinson ABN 38 119 171 979 · All Rights Reserved