Rudd Government launches virtual children's hub

The Rudd Government today launched a Web site that provides access to health, early learning, child care and parenting support information to parents and carers.

The new online portal is part of the Government’s $2.4 billion early childhood education and child care plan that aims to ensure every Australian child gets the best start in life.

In line with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2020 Summit vision, the Web site aims to be a place where families can go for information about Government initiatives and for assistance with their child care options.

It includes a searchable database of 8000 child care centres across the country, including the services they provide and the fees they charge. The Government plans to build on this information as the new Quality Framework is developed and delivered from July 2009.

Providing greater information to parents is part of the Rudd Government’s plan to deliver high quality, affordable and accessible child care for Australian children. This is also part of creating a more transparent market for child care services.

The site was launched by: the Minister for Education, Julia Gillard; Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew; the Minister for Families and Community Services, Jenny Macklin; and Professor Fiona Stanley of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research

It is accessible at mychild.gov.au.