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Childcare & Babysitting Articles

• One small step by Government – one giant leap for working Mums

  There has been much talk, much dithering and many ineffectual attempts to address the escalating problem of providing affordable and quality childcare. The non-deductibility of childcare expenses in the computation of assessable income has been the subject of much debate in Australia. Technically such expenses are not deductible because they are viewed as private or domestic, and not expenses incurred in gaining or producing assessable income. So while cars and parking can be claimed as a tax deduction, the courts cannot see that childcare expenses are inextricably linked to the production of income. Put simply, without childcare, many mothers would not be able to participate in the paid labour force.

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• Thinking about installing Nanny-cam? Think about these things first

  (NAN.ee-kam) n. A special video recording and surveillance system - small enough to be concealed inside stereo equipment or a teddy bear - utilised in private homes and commercial environments to monitor the standard of care supplied by nannies and carers who are required to work with a child, disabled or aged person with restrictions.

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• Who's minding your children?

  You are a working or single parent, you leave home before your child goes to school and you're unable to be there when they come home. You are busy parents who need some 'time out'. School holidays are approaching and the holiday care is limited. Sound familiar?

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• Coping strategies for bringing home baby

  You have survived many tiring months of pregnancy. You have made it through the excitement of labour and delivery and now you are ready to head home and begin caring for your baby. Once home, though, you frantically realize you have just taken on a 24-hour a day job!

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• Why family friendly policies are good business sense

  A family friendly workplace is said to be one in which employees have employer support and flexibility to be able to meet family commitments. In an organisation without good family friendly policies and practices, the pool of talent may become smaller as potential job candidates opt out of the running, preferring to work for a company that will allow them to have a better balance between their work and family lives.

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• 6 Tips for School Holiday Fun

  With a little planning and change in your mindset, the summer holidays can present fun opportunities for travel, camps and timeout with kids. Here are six tips for a stress-free summer!

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• Working with Children Checks

  If you have volunteered to help at your child's school or pre-school, chances are high that you would have been asked to fill in a form enabling the police to do a background check on you. Working with Children Checks are now mandatory in most States and Territories in Australia. The following information and internet sites, are a guide to obtaining information on police clearances and checks.

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• How to Hire a Nanny

   

  Hiring a nanny should be handled in the same way that you would search for and select any new employee. In this case the stakes are much higher as you are leaving your most precious possessions in their care - your children. There are several reputable agencies using tried and tested procedures to take the guesswork and hard work out of hiring a nanny. If you decide not to use a professional Agency, then there are a number of factors we recommend you seriously consider.

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• Coalition, ALP & Greens – Policies on Childcare & Disability Care

  Who will you vote for? Tony Abbott, Julia Gillard or Senator Bob Brown? To help you measure up the pros and cons, we present a summary of information from various sources about each parties' policies on Childcare and Disability Care.

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