Childcare Business Matters Magazine

Connecting Childcare and Business

Childcare

Business Issue 8

Matters

Business Matters Getting on the Front Foot

Branding Matters Branding Case Study

Financial Matters Driving Your Centre to Best of Class Performance

Plus: Building Blocks for a Safer Centre | Control your Cash Flow So... What is Happening in the Child Care and Early Learning Sector?

Choose a Fund that Looks After your Employees | New Products Should you Allow Staff to Provide Care Outside of the Centre?

Real people, real service.

When you call Guild Insurance you will always speak to a real person, not an automated voice.

After Nesha’s child care centre flooded, each time she called Guild she spoke to the same claims officer who followed her case and called to check how she was doing.

Call us any time, we’re here to help. guildinsurance.com.au/childcare

Freecall 1800 810 213

This document contains information of a general nature only and has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information you should consider its appropriateness having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs, or consult a financial adviser. Guild Insurance Limited ABN 55 004 538 863 AFSL No. 233791

Contents 4

4 Business Matters

Business Matters

Getting on the Front Foot

8

Superannuation Matters

Choose a Fund that Looks After your Employees

10

Operational Matters

14

Branding Matters

8

Control your Cash Flow

Branding Case Study: Bright Buttons Toys

15 Childcare Business Directory 19 Association Matters

So... What is Happening in the Child Care and Early Learning Sector?

10 Operational Matters

Legal & Risk Matters 21

Managing your Centre’s Debts

Marketing Matters 22

Promote Your Service Online

24 Operational Matters

Regulatory Changes, Again!

22

26 New Product Matters Human Resource Matters 28

Should you Allow Staff to Provide Care for Families Outside of the Centre?

31 Insurance Matters

Building Blocks for a Safer Centre

24 Operational Matters

32 Financial Management Matters

Driving Your Centre to Best of Class Performance

28 32 Financial Matters Childcare Business Matters | Issue 2

1

Childcare

Welcome As we go to press with our eighth edition of Childcare Business Matters the end of the year is drawing to a close very rapidly!

Looking back over 2010 it has been yet another year of changes for the childcare sector and 2011 is looking no different.

The Childcare Business Matters team hopes that Childcare Business Matters has been of use to you during the year in providing an easy and enjoyable way to keep up to date with the many changes and of course provide you with lots of fresh and interesting content to assist and support your day-to-day operations.

You’ll find this edition of Childcare Business Matters is, once again, full of great ideas on marketing, managing your service, operational tips and new services you can put in place. Of particular interest is Patrick Flanagan’s and Bradley Loftus’ article on Driving Your Centre to Best of Class Performance. A number of services have requested information on benchmarking as it is so important to take an outside view of your service from time to time and assure yourself that you and your team are doing well so I highly recommend this article.

I hope you manage to take some time out this holiday season and enjoy this latest edition of Childcare Business Matters.

The team at Childcare Business Matters wishes you and your loved ones a fun filled and safe Christmas and New Year period and we look forward to being a part of your service again in 2011.

Until next time remember Childcare Business Matters!

Hilary Knights Editor Childcare Business Matters www.childcarebusinessmatters.com.au

Business Matters

Co-founders Hilary Knights & Shelley Jelonek

Contributors Roxanne Elliott CareforKids.com.au www.careforkids.com.au Patrick Flanagan Guild Accountants www.guildgroup.com.au Tony Grogan Child Care Super www.childcaresuper.com.au Ryan Meldrum Expect A Star www.expectastar.com.au Nesha O’Neil Childcare Centre Owner & Operator www.norwestccc.com.au www.toprydeearlylearning.com.au Giovanni Porta Porta Lawyers www.portalawyers.com.au Ian Weston Regulation – Analysis, Design, Advocacy 0412 470 170 Michael Woger Guild Insurance www.guildgroup.com.au Childcare Queensland www.childcareqld.org.au

Childcare

Business Matters Website

www.childcarebusinessmatters.com.au

Editorial

Editor Hilary Knights

Advertising

Cathryn Meredith Impressions Media Pty Ltd Childcare Business Matters’ Media Representative Ph: 07 5564 2055 cm@impressionsmedia.com.au

Design and Production

Art Director Shelley Jelonek Senior Designer Holly Freemantle

Childcare Business Matters ABN 84 979 323 640 PO Box 456 Fortitude Valley Qld 4006 Phone: 0407 572 725 www.childcarebusinessmatters.com.au Childcare Business Matters is an independent publication.

Childcare Business Matters is printed using soy based Inks on a paperstock made from elemental chlorine free bleached pulp sourced from plantations and sustainably managed sources, and is manufactured by an ISO 14001 certified mill.

Legal Disclaimer. All rights reserved, no part of this magazine may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without written permission of the author. Every effort has been made to ensure that this magazine is free from error or omissions. However the publisher, the contributors and their respective employees or agents do not accept responsibility for injury, loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of material in this magazine whether or not such injury, loss or damage is in anyway due to any negligent act or omission, breach of duty or default on the part of the publisher, the author or their respective employees or agents. The intent on the publisher is only to offer information of a general nature, the material is not intended as professional advice and we recommend that you consult a professional advisor where necessary, the publisher and contributors assume no responsibility for your actions. This magazine is for general information purposes only and not as specific advice to any particular person. Any advice given in this magazine is general advice and does not take into account any person’s investment objectives, financial situation and particular personal needs. Before making any investment decision based on the advice in this magazine, you should consider, with or without the assistance of professional advice, whether it is appropriate to your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances. Please note, every effort has been made to ensure the publisher has not infringed copyright.

Business Matters

Getting on the Front Foot

Smart Marketing Can Beat Dumb Regulation by Ian Weston Australia’s early child development and care sector has a marketing problem. There is a disconnect between what centres offer, and what 70% of Australians think they offer.

The result – services are not properly understood, not properly valued, and suffer from sub-optimal regulation.

Centres have always integrated early learning and care, and yet a COAG target is to build a system which integrates early learning and care.

Regulated and accredited centres provide (demonstrably) good service quality. But high quality standards come at a cost. There is much evidence to prove the absence of a servicequality problem, but the presence an affordability problem for many parents. The COAG process ignores that evidence claiming instead there is a quality problem whilst basically ignoring affordability. Incredibly, COAG has not yet complied fully with its own Best Practice Regulation Principles about assessing affordability impacts to protect the balance between quality and accessibility (a matter confirmed by independent research by the Productivity Commission.)

This incomplete decision making breaches Parliamentary and Democratic principles, risks reducing quality by pricing parents and children out of the regulated system, and risks forcing parents out of the paid workforce.

Potential outcomes are the opposite of the Commonwealth Government’s stated productivity and workforce participation objectives.

The problem is not just with government decision making; the perceptual problem extends to the general community.

Civilised communities have always found ways to help parents with parenting.

4

That’s (part of) what centres do. And yet some Australians worry that centres harm families, or undermine parents, or are needless middle class welfare, or are pawns in a socialist plot for extending government into people’s lives.

What to do?

My last article offered ideas about how centres could work with parents to address the marketing problem.

This article extends that exploration by using the July 2009 “Investing in the Early Years – A National Early Childhood Development Strategy”.

What better way to show law makers what they should want than by asking them to follow their own Early Childhood Development Strategy? What better language and frameworks to use (with government and with parents) than the language and frameworks used by the National Early Childhood Development Strategy? In short, this National Strategy enables the sector to use government designed frameworks and language to help government decision makers (and

parents) understand what the correct objectives are, and what regulation, policy and funding priorities should be.

And how good to see a National Early Childhood Development Strategy recognise that ‘child development’ is as much about behaviour, and health, and the partnership between centres and parents, as it is about learning.

The National Early Childhood Development Strategy Centres will be very familiar with the objectives. The Strategy will: • guide Australia’s response to evidence about the importance of early childhood development, • promote prevention – by achieving positive early child development outcomes and address concerns… before problems become entrenched, • seek to improve health, cognitive and social development leading to improved educational, employment, health and well-being outcomes,

Ian Weston has 30 years legal and management experience in the private and public sectors, the last 15 running a consultancy specialising in regulation analysis and design.

Ian uses his experience to help clients understand how Parliaments use governments to make regulation. He assists clients to best position themselves for favourable regulatory outcomes by helping them understand how just outcomes depend on just law, how just law depends on just law-making, and how just law making depends on the right evidence, collected the right way, and involving the right people.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

Business Matters • seek to engage parents, • seek to improve workforce participation.

The Marketing Potential of the National Early Childhood Development Strategy The National Early Childhood Development Strategy mostly gets it right, reflecting the sector’s proper involvement in its design and development together with the absence of the usual ideological preferences for one form of service delivery over another: “To meet the diverse and complex needs of children and families and stop those most in need from falling through the cracks, services… need to be more coordinated, comprehensive, interdisciplinary and flexible. Some of the pressure… could be alleviated through a greater focus on prevention. (My emphasis).

situations, to maximise use of existing infrastructure, and to build the evidence about what works to improve transitions for families... This includes integration, where services and professionals across health, early childhood education and care, family support and specialists work very closely together, regardless of whether they are co-located or not.” (My emphasis)

These are good targets for centres to think about as part of their marketing program. From your perspective, what needs to be done to improve coordination and flexibility? From your perspective, what can be done to improve inclusiveness of services in your area?

This is what ‘service integration’ was supposed

“When properly linked to employment, health and social services, integrated services… improve outcomes, such as increased maternal employment, less family poverty, improved parenting skills, and greater family and community cohesion.” (Pages 11, 12)

“This will involve improving the inclusiveness of services and looking at ways to make services responsive to different family

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

5

Business Matters

...this National Strategy enables the sector to use government designed frameworks and language to help government decision makers (and parents) understand what the correct objectives are, and what regulation, policy and funding priorities should be. to be about, rather than pretending there is a need to integrate early learning and care in centres.

The sector can help achieve these objectives by driving them from the ‘bottom up’ to complement what the Early Childhood Development Strategy does from its ‘top down’ perspective.

Other dimensions are considered in the National Early Childhood Development Strategy.

Quality and Regulation “An effective early childhood development system supports best practice and continuous quality improvement in service delivery. It balances access and affordability, and raises family and community awareness about quality. Quality assurance and regulatory arrangements should be straightforward, appropriate and consistent across all levels of government. The regulatory environment should ensure service providers are accountable and do not face unnecessary regulatory burdens”.

Have you noticed COAG proposals genuinely trying to balance access and affordability? Did COAG proposals support the existing quality improvement mechanisms, or pretend there is a

need to build quality improvement mechanisms? You should explain these characteristics of an effective early childhood development system to your parents, so that parents understand what good value the system already delivers, and so that parents tell others, so that the message eventually gets through, even to lawmakers.

Workforce and Leadership Development “A primary determinant of quality in early childhood development service provision is the workforce – their qualification levels and ongoing training, their motivation, and the interaction with families and children.

Workforce issues are widely regarded as the key challenge for achieving the vision for children.”

Do COAG qualification proposals genuinely understand the need to work with the existing early childhood workforce? Is the plan to improve outcomes by forcing centres to employ four year university trained staff the best way of doing it? Or even a feasible way of doing it? Or a fair way?

The sector encourages investment in workforce training, but argues the prudent and effective way to improve outcomes through improved teaching

ECS EduCation RESouRCE a3 PoStERS

- an essential tool for accreditation • Educate parents & carers about the benefits of early childhood services • All Australian design & content.

• ALL NEW 12 subject matters including: Parent Information Board, Cultural Diversity, Healthy Eating & Nutrition, Hygienic Routines, Restful Experiences, Problem Solving & Transitions. early childhood services • Available laminated or unlaminated.

• Money Back Guarantee EDUCATION RESOURCE POSTERS

Ph: 0414 611 960 or for full price list www.childhoodresources.com.au

6

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

Business Matters effectiveness is by properly valuing and up-skilling the existing workforce, largely through improving the content and delivery of in-service and professional development training. This approach avoids having to pretend that higher formal qualifications mean higher teaching effectiveness.

Centres should talk with your parents and staff about these propositions.

And then you should make your views known to your local decision makers.

Governance and Funding “Early childhood development services, predominantly early childhood education care services, operate in a mixed market. Governance arrangements therefore require strong coordination and attention to sustainability.

Accountability mechanisms capable of capturing this complexity without overburdening service providers are required.”

“Whole-of-government and crosssectoral governance arrangements,

effective consultation with children and families, and more flexible funding and administrative arrangements are needed to better engage with children and families and respond holistically to their diverse issues.”

Do you think you or your children and families are being effectively consulted with, for example as part of regulation making processes? Can you identify ways to improve the flexibility of funding?

Are you satisfied with the coordination between different government agencies at the same level and between governments at different levels?

are receiving and how services are contributing to improved child outcomes. There is a need for better information on both individual and service level to inform innovation and to facilitate cost-benefit and randomised control evaluations at the community level to support continual learning.”

Your individual centre marketing can help address these gaps in knowledge and information. Note in particular the correct claim that there is inadequate information about what services are already doing to contribute to improved child development outcomes.

So in Conclusion...

Knowledge Management and Innovation “To know what works, and how we are going in realising the…vision for children and the associated outcomes… Australia needs to transparently collect, evaluate and publicly disseminate relevant information and evidence.”

“Gaps exist in information about what services children and families

The sector can rely on government to collect, evaluate and distribute this information needed to overcome the sector’s marketing and regulatory problems. Or it can get on the front foot and look for ways to explain these issues using simple language that ordinary Australians will understand. Centres have a role to play in this at their local level, along with state and national associations at the sector level.

How do you stand out from the rest of the pack?

With expert help from the childcare sector’s education marketing specialist, that’s how.

Hilary Knights can assist you to - develop an integrated marketing plan - tap into local resources - gain referrals - enhance your media profile - train staff in marketing your centre and - increase your market share.

Marketing can be the key difference between you and your competition and can ensure your centre’s sur vival.

Integrated Marketing Strategy Market Research Brand Strategy and Development B2B Marketing Event Management Product Hilary Knights and Development Emarketing Media and Advertising Business Development Direct Market Campaigns Customer Acquisition Education Marketing Specialist Retention Education Marketing Public Relations Campaigns Mentoring and Professional Development International Marketing Integrated Marketing Strategy Market Research Brand Strategies and Development Event Management Product Mobile: 0407Development 572725 Emarketing Media and Advertising Business Development Direct Market Campaigns Email: B2C Marketing Customer Acquisition and hilaryknights@optusnet.com.au Retention Public Relations Campaigns Mentoring and Professional Development Integrated Marketing Strategy Services Marketing Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

7

Superannuation Matters

Choose a Fund that Looks After your Employees

by Tony Grogan

When choosing a default superannuation fund for your child care centre, you not only want a fund that makes administration easy for you as an employer but that delivers maximum value to your employees.

Here are some areas you may want to consider when deciding which super fund will deliver the best value to your employees as well as your business.

The Value of Super Education The majority of Australian workers have low levels of knowledge about their superannuation, which can lead to them not making the most of their super.

For example, one in two working Australians have a lost super account leading to more than $13.6 billion in unclaimed superannuation money.

This is where the super fund can play an important role in educating its members to understand the simple steps they can take to boost their savings for retirement. By using effective communication, the fund can alert members to opportunities, such as how they can claim lost super.

Super with a Personal Touch It is our experience that personal communication can be a particularly

effective way to help people to understand the benefits of superannuation and to take the necessary action to help improve their retirement finances. This is why at Child Care Super our team of consultants visit child care centres personally to provide education sessions to workers and hand out easy-to-understand information on superannuation.

Super Online As people increasingly seek information online, providing web resources for members is also essential. Through Child Care Super’s Member Online site we provide education resources including webinars, calculators and a library of articles to help members understand and make the most of their super investment.

The Issue of Multiple Accounts An area of superannuation requiring particular attention for communication is the issue of multiple super accounts.

Tony has been associated with the financial services industry for the past 30 years through a number of management roles in both insurance and finance, and has a Diploma of Financial Services (Financial Planning).

At Child Care Super, Tony is responsible for managing a team of Financial Services Consultants and enjoys working with talented professionals in a team environment. He considers his work to be both fulfilling and enjoyable, and thrives on sharing the challenges and the successes of his clients.

8

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

On average there are nearly three super accounts for every Australian worker. Young workers in particular tend to move around early in their careers and can end up with a number of super funds. The downside of this is that account-keeping fees will apply for each account they hold and potentially erode their savings.

This is why Child Care Super regularly conducts campaigns and competitions for member, encouraging them to rollover their funds into one to help boost their super savings.

Consider if the Fund’s Investment Strategy looks after Members Workers often have low levels of interest in their superannuation. As a result of this, Child Care Super recognises that few members choose how their super is invested, potentially disadvantaging themselves. If members don’t make their own choice, we try to take their best interests into our own hands by making an appropriate investment choice based on the member’s age. We call this the Child Care Super Trustee Choice strategy.

For example, a 20 year-old member would benefit by being invested in a high growth, high risk/return investment portfolio over the long-term. This way they have potential for higher returns to increase their retirement benefit, with a longer period to recover from any short term negative returns.

Superannuation Matters The Child Care Super Trustee Choice strategy invests younger members in portfolios with a higher weighting of growth assets. As they grow older, their exposure to growth assets is reduced, meaning they benefit from an investment strategy that changes in line with their investment horizon.

We are one of the few super funds to adopt an age-based default investment strategy. While this strategy is more labour-intensive for us, we see it as a strategy that is beneficial for members. With most other funds, members would simply be defaulted to a ‘Balanced’ medium risk/return investment portfolio.

Consider the situation of a member who is 25 years old, earning $30,000 and with $15,000 in their superannuation account. If their asset allocation was based on the Child Care Super Trustee Choice strategy, compared to an average Balanced portfolio, the difference in strategy means their retirement lump sum may grow an extra $31,906*.

$450,000

$425,000

$400,000

$375,000

$350,000 Balanced Portfolio

Child Care Super Trustee Choice

*Calculations based on an investment return of 6% per annum (5 year average return p.a. for Growth Plus to 30 June 2008) and 8% per annum (5 year average return p.a. for High Growth Plus to 30 June 2008) (net of all fees, expenses and taxes) and compounded over 26 years (including 3% inflation on salary). This information is of a general nature only and does not consider your individual objectives, circumstances or needs.

The past performance information included is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

We suggest you consider this information in light of your own circumstances, and seek financial advice if required.

This article has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation When selecting a default fund for your or needs and because of that you should, before centre, consider how the fund looks acting, consider the appropriateness of the after its members. Besides competitive information to your objectives, financial situation or Retirement Benefit ($) fees and strong performance, a fund’s needs. You should obtain the Product Disclosure Statement relating to the product and consider communication with its members and it before making any decision about whether its investment strategies can impact to acquire, or continue to hold the product. significantly on a member’s super You can obtain the relevant PDS by contacting account balance.

Child Care Super on 1800 060 215 or at www.childcaresuper.com.au.

Child Carer Super is an eligible

Make your Choice

default superannuation fund under the Children’s Services Modern Award. Switching is easy, simply call the Customer Services Team on 1800 060 215.

Guild Trustee Services Pty Limited.

ABN 84 068 826 728. AFSL No. 233815. RSE Licence No L0000611 as trustee for Child Care Super (part of the Guild Retirement Fund). Fund Registration No. R1000030. ABN 22 599 554 834.

As you can see, the appropriate investment option can make a real difference. Of course members can select their own investment portfolio should they choose to, but for those who haven’t made a decision, we prefer to take a nurturing approach and steer them in right direction.

Child Care Super has launched a new website for workers in the child care industry called Cash Karma. Cash Karma provides a host of information and easy to use tools to help child carers deal with areas of their personal finances like budgeting, saving, super, and borrowing money. www.childcaresuper.com.au/cash-karma Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

9

OPERATIONAL Matters

Control your Cash Flow

by Nesha O’Neil

Whether you’re working for profit or sustainability, it’s important that you are in control of your centre’s cash flow. Right now is the time to get your cash flow under control for the new year.

Even if you’ve got your enrolments or rosters right, you can still hit the wall as a service, if your cash flow dries up. This has affected many well attended centres, and forced them into receivership – which was a surprise to everyone involved, as they had solid budgets, good attendance etc, but just fell down when it came to managing cash flow. Tight cash flow also affects your centre long term – if you get to the point where you haven’t got the cash to pay your staff, you will undermine their confidence in your business, and have staff turnover as a result.

for your service – so we’re assuming that you’ve already got a solid budget in place.

Cash flow differs to income, as it looks at your ability to pay your bills in a timely manner (vs just having money coming in). Cash flow also differs to budget – a budget is what you propose to spend (and then what you did spend) over the year, rather that the cycle of income/expenses that affects your cash reserves. Some accounting software has the ability to budget monthly, (e.g. MYOB) and you will then be able to see any major issues regarding cash flow, which is handy.

Personally, one of the tightest times for us for example is around January/ February. We’ve recently come out of Christmas where we pay staff annual leave (and leave loading) at a time when we are shut for several weeks (i.e. no income). We then have to pay the BAS and Payroll tax on that month with high wages. This is also a time when our enrolments might dip due to kids going off to school – and a time when we’re refunding thousands of dollars in bonds to families who are leaving. Plus, all of the other regular bills that come in (rent, phone bills etc), and regular payroll when we reopen.

You can’t do a cash flow projection without having some idea of a realistic budget (rather than idealistic budget)

The temptation to spend money when it’s there can be huge – e.g. paying off a loan, or buying much needed equipment. However, it can leave you short of money several months down the track when you are hit with a large number of big bills. Many services have been forced to dip into personal savings, take out loans, or approach parent organizations for help at times when their cash flow has dried up.

Nesha is a third generation childcare centre owner and operator.

After working in the fields of counselling psychology, organisational psychology and recruiting, Nesha took over ownership and management of Norwest Childcare Centre in 2003, the management of Midson Road Childcare Centre in 2004 and Top Ryde Early Learning in 2009 – all based in New South Wales. Nesha is an award winning centre owner and operator and highly respected within the childcare sector as a leader in childcare operations.

10

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

Some things you can do to help control your cash flow: • Check your DEEWR payments – do they match what your software says?

• Look your debtors – what are your outstanding fees like? Are they more than 15% of your weekly income?

• Some of the better software programs for fees/CCMS also allow for income projections – which will give you a really good idea of what’s going to happen in the months ahead.

• Check billing terms and conditions – does this bill need to be paid now, or can it wait – is there a discount for early payment or a penalty for late payment?

• Watch payment cycles – e.g. payroll, IA/BAS payments, Company Tax Payments, and big bills such as Insurance, Worker’s Compensation • Investigate auto billing options – for a small fee, you can ensure that your fees are paid regularly via direct debiting.

• Offer discounts to your families who pay large sums of money (e.g. a term in advance) at times when you really need the cash (e.g. the beginning of January) • It can be useful to set up a high interest savings account to ‘hold’ money in – so that you are not tempted to spend it, and you get the most return from the banks.

Where to Get Help Most accountants will be able to provide you with an easy to use spreadsheet that asks you for small bits of

OPERATIONAL Matters information to put in (e.g. when you do payroll and how much it is on average) and gives prompts to answer the questions posed above. It then shows your monthly cash cycles so that you can plan and manage a bit better.

Your accounting software can also sometimes help (though for some it’s difficult to wrestle with this to make it give you the reports you need). And as previously mentioned your fees software can also help in some cases.

Cash flow differs to income, as it looks at your ability to pay your bills in a timely manner (vs just having money coming in).

Your state association might have some resources that will help you – either in the form of spreadsheets, information sheets, or consultants who will come out and help you wade through it all.

Your professional support coordinator in each state will also be able to point you in the right direction if it is something you struggle with.

QikKids Web Introducing our latest edition to the family, QikKids Web. QikKids Web is already the industry’s most trusted Internet-based solution, as it gives Directors and Owners the flexibility to work from anywhere, anytime.

Over 2000 services have already made the move to QikKids Web and here’s why:

GREATER FLEXIBILITY

As long as you have a PC with a fast Internet connection you can work from anywhere, anytime.

AUTOMATIC UPDATES

Always have the latest and greatest version at your fingertips.

DISASTER PREVENTION

Daily back-ups taken and just a phone call away.

MANAGED SECURITY

Your data protected at our cost on our infrastructure.

Don’t just take our word for it, visit our website to see what our Members have to say or call our Team to discuss the many benefits QikKids Web will bring.

www.qikkids.com.au

1300 367 770

Childcare Management Software Solutions powered by

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

11

Advertisement

Breaking down the language

Extensive travel in Asia, Africa and the Middle East convinced Brisbane businesswoma that Australian kids are receiving a monolingual upbringing increasingly at odds with a g A vision of creating a generation of fluent foreign language speakers was b While travelling in Tanzania in 2003, she noticed young children raised in third world conditions were easily speaking multiple languages.

“I realised that despite our wealth and education Australian children don’t grow up speaking languages like they do elsewhere in the world,” Leann said.

“I did my own research into this situation and uncovered that Australian students spend less time learning a foreign language than students in any other OECD country.

“In fact, the percentage of year 12 students studying a LOTE (Language other than English) has fallen from 40 percent in the 1960s to 13 percent today.”

Leann, who was about to start a family of her own and envisioned a bilingual upbringing for her children (Jackson now aged 4 and Archer now aged 2), investigated the options for early childhood language education and found nothing was available. She decided to apply her expertise in adult training and accelerated learning techniques to devise AlphaTykes, a foreign language program designed specifically for toddlers and children.

Today AlphaTykes has 11 foreign language centres in five cities across Australia; four centres in Brisbane, three centres in Sydney, two in Melbourne and one centre each in Canberra and on the Gold Coast.

creativity and divergent thinking than monolingual children. They grasp linguistic concepts, such as a word having several meanings, well in advance of their monolingual counterparts.”

AlphaTykes introduces children 18 months to 12 years of age to French, Spanish and Italian. It is the first concept of its kind in Australia and is designed specifically for families who do not speak a foreign language in the home or those wanting to maintain a second language due to family heritage. But it is in childcare centres across the nation that Leann sees the greatest potential for AlphaTykes to do something practical about helping Australian children to broaden their foreign language skills.

Since April 2009 AlphaTykes bilingual programs have been introduced into 13 early learning and childcare centres throughout Australia, with dozens more scheduled for launch over the coming months. Guardian Childcare Alliance, which manages a national network of child care centres across Australia, has been running AlphaTykes programs in centres in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne since the start of 2010.

“The science is conclusive: the golden age of learning for children is before the age of five when children’s minds absorb knowledge more rapidly and successfully than at any other time during their lives,” Leann said.

“Very young children in foreign language programs demonstrate greater cognitive development,

AlphaTykes teachers conduct play‐ based language lessons at each childcare centre with the formal lessons reinforced by the childcare centre staff by incorporating foreign language words, songs, rhymes and games into the children’s daily activities.

Meg Bell, Director of Boondall Early Learning Centre in Brisbane which is a part of the Guardian Childcare Alliance, said AlphaTykes was perfectly suited to the centre’s philosophy of play-based learning.

“We have been very impressed with how it has rolled out,” she said. “It has provided an extra dimension to the quality of care we offer families within our centre community and parents and staff have enthusiastically embraced the benefits of this program.

“My own son Levi, who is two years of age, is learning Spanish and loves it.

He has picked up the language quicker than I could have ever imagined.

“The AlphaTykes program is provided in such a way that Levi is very proud

Advertisement

barrier

an Leann Webb globalised world. born. of his achievements and shows them off at every opportunity.

“It is a highlight for me as a parent hearing him use Spanish words in his everyday conversations. He often counts his toy cars in Spanish or calls out “Verde” as the traffic lights turn green.

“I’ve always wanted to learn a second language myself so I get to learn alongside him at the centre by practicing the Spanish words, phrases and songs throughout the week,” Meg said.

Leann said that the Australian way of teaching languages to children only after they started school was flawed and creating a generation of “pigeon speakers”.

“First and foremost, children need to start learning languages before the age of six for them to have the most opportunity to master pronunciation and syntax,” she said.

In addition, Leann believes that most Australian schools aren’t in a position to offer meaningful foreign language programs that develop true bilingualism.

“Australian schools simply don’t have the funding, resources or teachers to help children become bilingual.

“A child needs at least five hours a week of teaching, practice and exposure to become fluent in a foreign language. The immersion programs now offered in some schools are excellent, but other than that is often “too little, too late”.

second language,” she said.

“Children in this situation are the most likely to become truly bilingual.”

Leann said in the future bilingualism will be a vital skill in an increasingly globalised economy.

According to Leann, childcare is the solution for teaching Australian children languages.

“By the time today’s children reach the workforce they will be competing for jobs in global companies and organisations with people who speak English just as well as they do their own native language, and often one or two more.

“Children in childcare are the ideal age to be taught a language and in a bilingual centre the children receive sufficient teaching, practice and exposure to genuinely acquire a

“If non-English speakers can speak our language, and we can’t speak theirs, they have us at a huge communicating advantage,” she said.

For further information 1300 61 22 88 or visit www.alphatykes.com.au Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

13

Branding Matters

Branding Case Study: Approaching Artshak through a word of mouth recommendation, Bright Buttons Toys has quickly become one of our favourite clients and an instant success story!

Founded in January 2010, Bright Buttons Toys is an online toy retailer specialising in educational and developmental toys and gifts for children from birth through to early teens.

Developing the brand from scratch, Artshak created a logo which immediately conveys the sense of fun and play and educational philosophy behind the brand. As Bright Buttons Toys is an online retailer with no physical outlets, the website design was crucial to the success of the business, supported by regular enewsletters.

Since launching, the website has proven highly popular, with parents as well as industry professionals not only making purchases online, but using the child development and education resources developed by Bright Buttons Toys.

In a short time, this website has become a beacon for information on child development as well as a highly successful online business.

For more information, visit www.brightbuttonstoys.com.au

Could your image use some professional help?

Whether you’re establishing a new Childcare Centre or service or looking for better results from your existing image, it pays to call on Artshak.

Our creative team have the industry experience and fresh creative approach you need to get it right the first time.

At Artshak we research your market, scrutinise your customer profile and apply our experience and expertise to your project, to deliver the most appropriate branding and marketing for you. From name creation, branding, design, websites that work and promotional materials, our creative sparks ensure you stand out from the crowd!

206 Arthur Street Fortitude Valley Q 4006

Branding

14

School annuals

Website design

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

P 07 3254 2011 F 07 3254 2022

E design@artshak.com.au W www.artshak.com.au

Corporate, logo and stationery design

Advertising

Promotional and sales brochures

Childcare

Business Directory ABC Music & Me ABC Music & Me – Turn your classroom into a music room. ABC Music & Me is a music enrichment program developed by Kindermusik International for 2 to 4 year olds. This easy to utilize, all in one program, will help students build the skills needed for early school success while generating extra revenue for your centre. Your teacher’s kit comes with a guide and training DVD, all needed classroom materials, student home kits for each unit and marketing brochures. ABC Music & Me is musical learning made fun! Learn more today.

Ph: 1300 721 722 www.abcmusicandme.com

ACCCO Australian Child Care Career Options (ACCCO) is a successful, industry recommended and well-established Registered Training Organisation providing qualifications in Children’s Services, Out of School Hours Care and Community Services Work.

Ph: 1300139406 www.accco.com.au

ACCOUNTS ADVANTAGE Ask Accounts Advantage about our specialized bookkeeping solutions for the childcare industry.

AshleyMunro AshleyMunro is an inspired group of deep thinking business professionals focused on ‘guiding entrepreneurial success’. Using a proven suite of business improvement tools, extensive industry knowledge and insight, AshleyMunro is able to empower positive growth for their clients.

Ph: 07 3002 5400 • www.ashmun.com.au

Artshak Design Whether you need to rebrand your centre, service or product – our team are passionate about their design and creating solutions that work!

Ph: 07 3254 2011 design@artshak.com.au • www.artshak.com.au

Business acumen Magazine Business Acumen is Queensland’s largest circulating business magazine – the magazine provides quality business coverage to key business people who want knowledge of relevant developments in Queensland business.

Ph: 07 3815 5588 • www.businessacumen.biz

Childcare BY DESIGN

Ph: 1300 400 105 www.accountsadvantage.com.au

Childcare by Design provides the advice and practical support that individual and corporate developers, and prospective and current licensees, require to establish and operate high quality, profitable, and individualistic centres.

AlphaTykes

Ph: 0419 661 921 info@childcarebydesign.com.au www.childcarebydesign.com.au

AlphaTykes is a program that has been developed by educational and early childhood experts to help children reach their full potential and become as bright and brilliant as they can be. The beauty of the program is that it harnesses two important opportunities: when to teach children and what to teach them.

Call us on 1300 61 22 88 www.alphatykes.com.au

Childcare Queensland Childcare Queensland is the peak private long day childcare centre association in Queensland and the largest childcare organisation in Australia.

Ph: 07 3808 2366 childcareqld@bigpond.com www.childcareqld.org.au Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

15

Business Directory s ice act r o p and easy t n i g L t n de EYtting irammoi n ma u og ati P • Pr ent • m cu do

Expect A Star

2 F DVD

CHILD’S PLAY CONSULTANCY SERVICES

ALL-INCLUSIVE SERVICE DESIGN, BUILD, SET UP, LICENSING Documentation, ACCREDITATION Support, STAFF Induction & Training.

We take you from “block of land to open day and beyond”.

We can upgrade your child care business.

With 25 years experience in the child care field.

Your success is our business!

Call Pam Maclean today. g din Ph: 07 4153 5149 M: 0412 525 426 E: childsplayconsultancy@hotmail.com Visit www.childsplayconsultancy.com.au

Also

i rov

p

F EYLhops s

rk Wo

EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAINING Children’s Services Traineeship and Apprenticeship programs Distance Study courses Customised workshops delivered at your service.

Award winning • Established 11 years VETAB Registered Training Organisation Ph: NSW 02 4223 1111 • QLD 07 3345 8272 www.ectarc.com.au

Education Resource Posters • All Australian design and content • Educate parents & carers about the benefits of Early Childhood services Ph: 0414 611 960 mppg@optusnet.com.au

EVOLUTION HEALTH SYSTEMS We have your germ solutions. Protect your centre with hand sanitiser and hospital grade disinfectant surface protection. Buy online now!

Ph: 07 3217 3166 www.evolutionhealthsystems.com.au

Ezidebit™ A fully automatic solution, Ezidebit™ is fabulous for regular collection of recurring fees, variable amounts, invoice payments or payment plan options.

Ph: 1300 763 256 www.ezidebit.com.au

16

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

Expect A Star are the childcare specialists providing support, solutions, products and practical alternatives for all participants of the childcare industry – children, families, staff and centres.

Ph: 1300 669 653 services@expectastar.com.au www.expectastar.com.au

Future Blocks Childcare management software so simple it’s child’s play!

• We move your existing data for you.

• Australia’s first auto-reconciling payment collection service.

• Auto CCB update to parent’s accounts.

• Billing in advance with CCB % and more.

• Developed by Childcare workers Ph: 1300 651 765 www.futureblocks.com.au

Global Kids Oz Global Kids Oz specializes in providing culturally-diverse resources to support and encourage multicultural education in early learning and primary school sectors.

Ph: 1300 32 00 65 www.globalkidsoz.com.au

Guardian Childcare Alliance Guardian Childcare Alliance provides professional childcare centre management services, from independent operational audits and regulation compliance through to centre management and “turn-key” investment options. The combined knowledge of our executive team together with our practical, down-to-earth approach makes us the ideal partner for your centre.

Ph: 1300 025 007 www.guardianchildcare.net.au

Want to Advertise Here?

Contact Cathryn Meredith of Impressions Media, authorised representative for Childcare Business Matters for advertising rates today!

Ph: 07 5564 2055 • cm@impressionsmedia.com.au

Business Directory

Guild Group Child Care Super The only child care super fund designed for child care operators.

Ph: 1800 060 215 www.childcaresuper.com.au

Guild Insurance Specialist insurance for childcare operators, as well as, ‘value-add’ risk management services and advice.

Ph: 1800 810 213 www.guildinsurance.com.au

Guild Commercial Finance Commercial financing specialists delivering financing solutions for child care operators.

Ph: 1300 638 346 www.guildgroup.com.au

Guild Accountants Accountants providing business and tax advice helping child care operators to manage their centres.

Ph: 1800 101 296 www.guildgroup.com.au

Daniel Armfield Associate

BCom(GU), LLB(GU), Grad. Dip. Legal Practice(ColLaw)

JARDINE ARCHITECTS Specialising in childcare design • Architecture • Interior Design • Planning Ph: 07 3229 9322 email@jardinearchitects.com.au

LEGAL SERVICE TO THE CHILDCARE INDUSTRY Unit 3, 420 Newman Road, Geebung Brisbane Qld 4034 Telephone: (07) 3265 3888 • Facsimile: (07) 3265 3588 Email: daniel@portalawyers.com.au

KINDY KARATE Become a leader in the future of Life Skills training!

Become a Kindy Karate licensee.

Ph: 0417 202 465 sensei@kindykarate.com www.kindykarate.com

One World for Children Save time and money with Online Workshops.

One World for Children delivers nationally accredited qualifications from Certificate III to Advanced Diploma.

Contact us now to find out more.

Ph: 1800 006 533 www.owfc.com.au

Supporting the largest member base in the country, QikKids is proud to be recognised as the most trusted software brand in the industry.

For a friendly demonstration call

1300 367 770 or visit us at www.qikkids.com.au Childcare Management Software Solutions powered by

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

17

Business Directory

Succeed Consultancy Succeed Consultancy is a consultancy and management based company specialising in the Children’s Services sector. We tailor our services to meet your individual needs. Succeed Consultancy mentors, guides and manages all facets of your childcare business with you, or for you. We give you freedom in your business to Succeed. Minimise your risk and maximise your profit with our 100% money back guarantee!

Ph: 1300 077 248 www.succeedconsultancy.com.au Email: enquiries@succeedconsultancy.com.au Succeed to Success

Techno Corners Australia A complete no-fuss educational package: Simple to use, designed for pre-schoolers, large range of activities, free maintenance, training resources, fundraising options, latest technology, worry free. Parents and children love it!

Ph: 1300 766 736 • www.technocorners.com.au

Multicultural Learning

Global Kids Oz specializes in providing culturally-diverse resources to support and encourage multicultural education in early learning and primary school sectors.

Tailored Childcare management You will relax when your centre is in capable hands

• Full Management

• Consultancy Services Including:

– Design

– Programs – Training

– Accreditation

– Staffing – I.T.

Ph: 07 3723 7722 info@atcm.com.au • www.atcm.com.au

With over 800 resources from over 115 countries and cultures of our world, including multicultural plastic recycled play mats, bi-lingual books, global music, Indigenous and ethnic dolls, global games, multicultural flash cards, cultural dress ups and region specific multicultural resource kits.

Global Kids Oz provides the resources you need to empower you to teach multicultural studies with confidence.

www.globalkidsoz.com.au or call us anytime on

1300 32 00 65

Are you missing something in your centre’s risk assessment?

Take a closer look at riskequip.com.au/childcare

Many potential hazards go unnoticed. Let Guild help you prevent unnecessary risks before it’s too late.

18

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

June10RiskChildcare1HalfSpecial.indd 1

Visit Riskequip to learn about your risks, read articles and case studies and perform a self-check. riskequip.com.au/childcare Guild Insurance Limited AFSL No. 233791 11/10/2010 2:00:31 PM

Association Matters

So... What is Happening in the Child Care and Early Learning Sector?

by Gwynn Bridge

A great deal is happening! As we fast approach the signing off of a completed 2010 we look back through the haze of days and we can mark this year as an eventful year that has set the scene for the care and early learning sectors for many years to come.

In my 23 years in the long day care sector, I cannot remember a year that has provided us with such purposeful consideration as to the future of those who are actively involved in our sector, the families, children, staff, licensees and parent management groups.

The unfolding events around the National Agenda have been determined by three stakeholders – government, academics, and to a much smaller extent, practitioners.

Governments, through the Council of Australian Governments, have set the scene after consultation with academics.

We must acknowledge that both governments and academics share the intent and the primary consideration to improve care and early learning for Australia’s children. This is to be applauded. Providers, staff and families also want what is best for our children.

Where this admirable intent is running into difficulty is that the care and early learning sector has developed with the addition of “band-aid” solutions since 1991. Governments from both sides of Parliament have attempted to correct inequities, modify loopholes and improve quality by adding and subtracting policies and legislation, most times without proper consultation to determine the unintended consequences of such changes.

This not only has been the process through the Australian Government but

also by state and territory governments.

Consequently, we have vast differences in legislation throughout Australia.

It is the intention of the present Australian Government to address the disparity between state/territory legislation and this will not be without pain and consequences to some, if not all of the stakeholders. The intended and unintended consequences of the implementation of the National Agenda most certainly will affect families through an increase in fees.

We are therefore faced with the choice, higher quality or affordable care and early learning. Providers of care do not support care that will not ensure best practices for the care and learning needs of children.

policy that reduces the costs of childcare to encourage maternal labour supply.’’

On average, a gross price increase of 1% would be expected to reduce the hours worked by married mothers with young children to a decrease of 0.7%.

If a rise in fees will cause this outcome, how then do we meet the government’s and academics’ vision and maintain affordability for families in doing so?

The Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) has stated openly and constantly, since the onset of discussions on the implementation of the National Agenda, that it is the responsibility of the Australian Government to meet implementation and sustainability costs of their pending legislation.

This then means that parents will need to pay additional fees, and in some demographic areas this increase will be substantial. Increases will be significant enough to force some families out of the workforce or to seek unsafe, unregulated, care for their children. This is an unintended consequence that will relegate the safety of children to pre 1991 years.

We are constantly told that the Government has no money and that budget will be balanced by 2012.

Admirable, but by 2012 families will be at the commencement point of cost increases imposed by the new national regulations. New South Wales families unfortunately will experience increases from 2011 as the 1:4 ratio takes effect in that state.

The key finding of an April 2010 Treasury Department’s Working Paper is that “in contrast with previous Australian estimates, the cost of childcare does have a statistically significant and negative effect on the labour supply of married mothers. This finding supports

An additional band-aid has been applied to the legislation in the last sitting in the House of Representatives for 2010 with the introduction of the reduction of the Child Care Rebate from $7 778 maximum per year to $7 500 per year.

A cap has been placed on CCR

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

19

Association Matters indexation for a period of 4 years.

ACA have been monitoring the bracket creep reduction of the Child Care Benefit paid to families over the past several years. When the band-aid was applied that removed the 16% minimum CCB payment, most double income families were thrust into relying solely on the CCR to assist them with their fees.

As more families move into this level of funding, out of pocket expenses paid by families will ultimately increase as they move past the $7 500 per year cap.

A child attending 4 days per week with fees of $73 per day = $14 976 ($7 488 CCR Rebate). Fees will continue to rise during the 4 years of the indexation freeze (the same period as the introduction of the National Agenda and phasing in of the Modern Award) and many families will tumble over the cap. These increases will then be met solely by families. The estimated cost to working families of this band aid application will be $86 million.

This legislation will be put before the Senate at their next sitting.

The agreement to provide the choice for families to receive payment of the CCR off their account fortnightly in arrears will assist with immediate affordability for the families who struggled to meet fees during the three month wait for their rebate.

An online survey of 1 847 parents, conducted in August 2010 by the Childcare Alliance Australia (ACA and CAA) found that for those families who are already experiencing financial stress, more than half (51%) say one parent will quit their job if costs of child care increased and one in two families say they will withdraw their child/children altogether from their current long day child care centre.

Many mothers say they will have to quit their jobs or rely on their parents – both options have long term implications for the health and financial welfare of these families, the stability of the Australian economy, not to mention the child development benefits of access to high quality play based learning programs.

Low income families will be forced out of formal care as they do not have available

20

funds for any increase in child care fees.

These families may not be affected by the reduction in the cap but will be affected by the freeze on indexation of the Child Care Rebate. Because parents are already struggling financially, there are a large number of children unable to access an early learning program at the present time.

This group of children have been recognised in the Henry Report as deserving special help to access early learning and care services. Budget proposals will make it harder for disadvantaged children and families, not easier.

As we return to contemplate the current proposals for legislation for the care and early learning sector we can only assume that these unintended consequences escaped the governments and the academics’ thoughts as they deliberated on, and then wrote the policies for change.

Additional band-aids will not fix affordability issues including the current exclusion of children from a care and early learning program. Thorough consultation and discussion with all stakeholders leading to increased, appropriate funding to enable families to meet the government’s vision, will.

A meeting of a diverse group of stakeholders was held in Sydney in late November to determine areas of agreement whereby those involved can approach the Australian Government as one powerful voice in an effort to effect funding proposal changes for families.

With Christmas fast approaching, we all know that we are heading into an extremely busy time in our centres and there is very little opportunity for anything else to take up our precious time.

However, this year, when you sit to relax after the Christmas festivities, you will have a major document to read, digest and comment on. This document is the national regulations that will be adopted by each state and territory under which we will operate the new National Standard legislation.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

The process for implementing the new law is an applied laws approach that requires a host jurisdiction to pass the Bill. Other jurisdictions (including Queensland) will then adopt the Act by reference to the host jurisdiction’s legislation. The style of the legislation provides broad enabling powers in the Act and the detail will be contained in a Regulation.

Queensland Government, OECEC, Frequently Asked Questions, accessed 7th November, 2010 from http:// education.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/ national/faq.html We have been advised that the Regulations (when passed through the host jurisdiction) will be released for comment and consultation on 20th December, 2010 with a closing date of 1st March, 2011.

The following documents are available on the DEEWR website and we advise you to study these documents and provide feedback to ececquality@deewr.gov.au or to where stated on each document.

• The draft Assessment and Ratings Instrument.

• Draft Guide to the National Quality Standard Education and Care Services – Centre based and family day care.

• Draft Guide to the National Quality Standard.

• Draft Self Assessment and Quality Improvement Plan.

Have a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones.

Gwynn Bridge President – Australian Childcare Alliance CEO – Childcare Queensland

Legal & Risk Matters

Managing your Centre’s Debts As a child care provider who provides high quality services to your parents, you are entitled to be paid for your good work. your contract payment terms.

Parent Bonds are a useful way to ensure payment before fees escalate to the point where the debt is unmanageable by the parent. This way if a parent is centre hopping, you have the ability to immediately recover some of the debt directly form the Parent Bond.

However, bad debts can drive a centre into insolvency and may even expose the proprietors to personal liability.

As a result, debt recovery should be a priority for all centres, especially in the recent global financial environment.

We have all heard that “prevention is better than cure”. If your credit policy and associated contracts are in order this will maximise your chances in debt recovery action and thereby minimise the time, emotion, energy and cost of chasing debtors.

If you are chasing outstanding debts, here are some tips: 1. Be willing to negotiate This may involve a repayment plan or even a reduced amount.

Be realistic in considering offers to settle from your parents, especially if the debt is well under $1 500 as legal fees and outlays can quickly make recovery of smaller amounts uncommercial.

2. Keep comprehensive records Maintain your own file of invoices, receipts, emails, correspondence and file notes of telephone conversations. This will make chasing debts far more cost efficient if you need to seek professional advice. Without supporting documentation, your job at recovery becomes more difficult. Remember your file may become evidence that is relied upon to recover the debt.

3. Review your credit policy If you are having difficulty recovering debts from your parents, this is a timely reminder to review

by Giovanni Porta inconvenience of a legal dispute and promptly pay your outstanding account. Child Care Providers can also have a firm assist in creating a standard precedent for commencing proceedings in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) (QLD) and Magistrates Court of Western Australia (WA) to recover the debt themselves.

We have all heard that “prevention is better than cure”.

If your credit policy and associated contracts are in order this will maximise your chances in debt recovery action and thereby minimise the time, emotion, energy and cost of chasing debtors.

If your credit policy is reviewed from time to time this will ensure that your debt recovery is made easier and more cost efficient.

4. Seek professional legal advice Most small to medium firms offer reasonable rates to assist you to resolve your dispute. A standard letter of demand may be in the vicinity of $150 + GST. This is sometimes sufficient incentive for parents to avoid the time and

For more information in your jurisdiction go to: www.magistratescourt.wa.gov. au/content/civil/default.aspx (WA) or www.qcat.qld.gov.au/debtdisputes.htm (QLD) or talk to your solicitor.

Giovanni Porta has university degrees in both education and law. Following an early career as a teacher of social sciences and languages he was admitted as a Solicitor in 1995.

He is the principal of Porta Lawyers in Brisbane, who specialise in commercial and property law, with a keen focus on all areas of law related to childcare centres. www.portalawyers.com.au

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

21

Marketing Matters

Promote Your Service Online

by Roxanne Elliott

As part of Marketing Matters we will regularly bring you articles on proven and successful services or products that can enhance your centre’s offering, engage with your families and provide a media angle for local media exposure...

For the vast majority of Australians the internet is the first place we look when researching a new topic and the same holds true for parents searching for child care for their kids.

A simple Google search on ‘child care’ throws up a plethora of news articles, contacts for providers and information resources and for your child care business to be successful in your marketing efforts you need to maintain a presence in a variety of these sources.

As the founder of CareforKids.com.au, Australia’s premier search engine for quality child care, I have spoken to numerous child care business owners who can testify to the fact that maintaining a successful online presence requires a well rounded approach designed to maximise your service’s exposure to parents looking for care.

For most parents the first contact they have with your service will either be through your website or your listing in an online directory service such as CareforKids.com.au. In my experience most parents draw up a shortlist of

services to contact and then begin further investigations, so the more information you have available through your online presence the better.

Website A great website offers many cost effective benefits including 24 hour accessibility and an expanded marketplace, reduced publishing and marketing costs, reduced vacancies, reduced administrative costs through FAQ pages and contact pages and an enhanced image.

Remember, parents are time poor and when they visit your website will be looking for specific information: operating hours, whether you have vacancies and cost, information on staff, facilities and menus will also be important.

Make sure your contact details are easy to find and if you have an email contact option ensure you check it every day to reply to messages.

Website Checklist Ask yourself the following: • What do you want your website to do?

• What type of audience are you trying to reach (e.g. parents, employers, other providers)?

Roxanne Elliott is the Founder of CareforKids.com.au Australia’s No 1 child care resource. CareforKids.com.au connects parents and the child care industry via the internet and provides access to over 11 500+ child care services Australia wide. CareforKids.com.au is the gateway for parents to child care centres, family day care facilities, pre-schools and before and after school care and vacation care services and currently attracts over 1 million parents per year.

22

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

• Would you like your website to provide all the info parents need or would you like them to call?

• Is the information well organised and easy to find?

• Do you offer downloadable forms to improve the waiting list process?

• Would you like to use the site as an ongoing source of information for families in the service by posting newsletters, menus, updates on activities, staff changes etc?

• Does the look and feel of your website provide an accurate reflection of your service?

Online Directories For services which don’t have a marketing budget and/or the skills and resources to maintain their own website, an online directory such as CareforKids.com.au offers an excellent alternative.

CareforKids.com.au offers service providers the ability to reach a targeted audience of parents looking for child care without going to the expense of setting up a website and enables you to keep all your vacancy and contact information completely up-to-date.

The real advantage of listing with an online directory rather than in a traditional hard copy directory is that your information can be updated in real time. This means that if you suddenly have an unexpected vacancy you can connect to parents who are actively looking for child care immediately.

You can also take advantage of CareforKids.com.au Child Care Vacancy

Marketing Matters Alert service. Child Care Vacancy Alert is an up-to-date database of parents looking for child care in your service’s area. Parents simply register the days and locations they need care and as vacancies arise you simply access the database to find a match and then contact the family directly.

General Manager of Guardian Childcare Alliance Anthony Smith says he is delighted at the high number of enquiries he receives through using the Vacancy Alert tool.

“Our centre managers love it and are building occupancy rapidly. Managers get a kick out of checking their email early each day to find new leads and I’m sure the families are also enjoying the prompt responses they receive from our centres,” he said.

Measuring Your ROI Spending time and money promoting your service online is only worthwhile if it drives tangible returns to the bottom line, which is why it is also important to implement a system of measuring the return on your investment.

This may involve the use of a statistical key performance indicator for example: we want to achieve a 12 per cent increase in enrolments in six months as a result of improving our website and listing with www.CareforKids.com.au.

whether they found your website through a search engine or a directory.

By tracking your online strategies on a regular basis you’ll be able to measure how effectively they are working for you and the best approach to use moving forward.

Good Luck!

Or you may prefer to question people who call about how they heard about the service and

Other services include detailed directory listings, child care search tools enabling parents to drill down and find child care in their local area, review pages andSmarter forums forBanking parents to discuss their from experiences a Bankwest and Business library of child care information to educate parents on child care.

BANKWEST BUSINESS SPECIALISTS YEARS EXPERIENCE IN COMMERCIAL TO THE15 CHILD CARE INDUSTRY BANKING & THE CHILDCARE SECTOR At Bankwest we see the need for a smarter approach to business banking – that’s why we take the time to get

to know you, your business and your industry. Our experienced Child Care Banking Specialists have an in-depth

As the leader of a dedicated Portfolio Management team of four with combined 40 years experience we have the resources to provide your childcare business client We recognise the valueoutstanding of your people andservice. assets, and support you through our understanding of the unique knowledge of the Child Care Industry, and make it their role to be financial experts to the industry.

Understanding industry and your goals are critical that and you our canflexible have confidence in the challenges facedthe by childcare the Child Care Industry.

Withbusiness our comprehensive productso range cash flow lending way I can a complete package to ityour business andthe vision forinlong growth. policies wetailor provide you valuefinancial for money service specifically which makes easier for you needs to unlock equity yourterm business.

Areas of specialisation include Commercial Lending, Leasing and Equipment Finance, Business Transaction Accounts and Business Cash Management.

To speak to one of our experienced Child Care specialists who will tailor a package to your needs, please contact: Paul Barbagallo

Andrew Toten

Tiffany Nguyen

Tom Grogan

Geebung, QLD

Springwood, QLD

Brisbane, QLD

Southport, QLD

Paul Barbagallo Senior Relationship Manager T 07 3623 5002 T 07 3387 7430 T 07 3004 9979

T 07 5555 1003

Warren Harris

Jane Sullivan

David Head

Bella Vista, NSW

Narellan, NSW

T 02 8887 1409

T 02 4648 7416

Corporate & Specialised Banking Andrew Sibley

Bankwest VIC BusinessAdelaide, SA Melbourne,

Unit 5, 106 Robinson Road, Geebung QLD 4034

T 03 9641 2103

T 08 8419 1120

M 0437 883 718 | T 07 3623 5002 | F 07 3265 1433 E paul.barbagallo@bankwest.com.au

Jeaneen Jennings

re ildcaQLD chSouthport, T 07 5555 1011 sector specialist

bankwest.com.au Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN 22 050 494 454 AFSL 236872 Bank of Western Australia Ltd ABN 22 050 494 454 AFSL 236872. WBF10/BW147

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 7 8

23

Editorial

OPERATIONAL Matters

Regulatory Changes, Again!

Many teachers and owners were surprised to receive a letter from NCAC advising that their upcoming Accreditation with NCAC had been cancelled. Sighs of relief were heard across the country, but of course there has to be a catch.

Spot checks will continue to occur while the new Quality Frame work will be brought into place. From the 1st January 2011 you no longer need to put in your Self -Study Report to NCAC according to the NCAC website.

So the shift from a Federally operated system to a committee of State government bodies has started.

What does this mean for your service?

One of the first changes to be implemented is the change in staffing ratio for babies in a centre, one staff member per 4 children. This change affects different services in different ways. Many services in Australia already operate on this ratio and wonder what all the fuss is about.

Other services are run by councils or community groups and there is no change as they already run increased ratios.

Unclear Information

Introduction of a new system will mean that a new set of Policy and Procedures including systematic reporting and check lists will have to be created.

Check with your local Community Services or Department Of Education representative on their requirement.

New Standards Coming New standards are coming into place in the New Year and we need to be ready.

How do these changes affect your service? Changing legislation unfortunately is the norm in early learning services. We have to allocate our time and resources to this important part of our activities.

Different state government are implementing different deadlines. It is important to use local peak bodies to keep informed and continue to keep records of how standards are met.

One Sydney operator believing the new ratios didn’t come into effect till 2016 decided to call their local DOCS person who couldn’t say when the staff ratio will change. The operator then checked several websites that show NSW are actually bringing forward the deadline scheduled by the NAF, to January next year. Further concerns were reported as to how DOCS are going to handle the new increase in work load when they can take up to a year to process a simple form like a Teacher’s Activation.

Changing staff ratios may mean you have to employ another staff member.

It is difficult to know what is going to happen as the information coming through is not really clear enough.

3. Put all fees up across the centre?

24

How to Calculate Fee Increases Whether your service is a private enterprise or a not-for-profit organisation you will have only three choices in how to minimise the impact of fees for your families. If you employ more staff what will it cost and how will you cover the increase? Do you: 1. Absorb the cost increase?

2. Put up fees in that room only? or What you decide is often depicted by what the “norm” is in your area. If

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

you actually calculate the labour costs per age group you quickly find that your fees to cover the 0 to 2 year old (babies) group would be about double the older age groups. This is why traditionally child care services have shied away from providing for babies.

It’s very expensive. Most not-for-profit services on the other hand chose not to pass on the actual cost of providing for this age group by using subsidies.

Cost of Employing Another Staff Member Let’s look at some of the costs to your budget when you employ another staff member.

First, take the person’s weekly wage and add to it the typical cost of having that person e.g. Superannuation (9%), Workers Comp. Insurance (3.5%), plus cost to hire a replacement person when they are on leave plus payroll tax (6%). Hopefully you live in a state that does not charge payroll tax which drives up parents’ fees.

Typically a staff member has to be replaced for holidays for four weeks a year (or two if the centre closes over Christmas) and 10 personal leave days i.e. 15% being 40 days out of 260 working days in the year. You can replace a staff member with a person from an employment agency, but this

Editorial

OPERATIONAL Matters

is an additional cost. In which case use 30% in your calculations.

Alternatively why not employ a trainee and have currant experienced staff acknowledged by moving into a more senior role when a teacher is on leave. That way other staff members get to step up and learn new skills and your service is training the next generation of teachers.

To summarise we have: 9%+3.5% +15% + 6% = 33.5%.

So the approximate cost for a person on $500 a week

would be: $500 plus $500 x 33.5% = $667.50.

Per room of 20 children =$667.50 /5 days /20 places =$6.67 say $7.00 per day increase in that room.

Across the centre $667.50 /5 / 40 places = $3.38 say $3.50 per day increase across the centre.

Now the above method is just a quick calculation as there are more costs of course and that’s why the increase is rounded up to the nearest 50c.

Also if this is an annual increase you may wish to add your local inflation percentage (currently about 3%).

These increases are not to make more money they are just to ensure the wages can be paid! www.futureblocks.com.au/links Comments on this editorial can be sent to Laurence Adney, ladney@futureblocks.com.au

Tired of super paperwork?

Care Super’s Our Check out Child ouse and free Clearing H Demonstration t options en m y a p e lin on CD shows how easy it is

FREE

Order your FREE Demonstration CD now... .au/freedemo www.childcaresuper.com 1800 060 215

Child Care Super’s Clearing House is provided through MercerSpectrum. MercerSpectrum is a product issued by Mercer Investment Nominees Limited (MINL) ABN 79 004 717 538. AFSL No. 235906. This document includes general financial product advice which has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider these matters and seek advice from a licensed, or appropriately authorised, financial adviser before making any decisions concerning your super. Prior to making any decision in relation to any financial product, you should consider the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) in deciding whether to acquire, or continue to hold the product. Child Care Super’s PDS is available at www.childcaresuper.com.au. Child Care Super is offered by Guild Trustee Services Pty Limited. AFS Licence No. 233815, ABN 84 068 826 728, RSE Licence No. L0000611, Child Care Super (part of the Guild Retirement Fund) ABN 22 599 554 834, Fund Registration No. R1000030.

15389 CCS Print advert A5_PFO.indd 1

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 27/09/10 8 10:38 25 AM

New Product Matters

Early Childhood Services – Education Resource Posters Enrich your child’s day with the Early Childhood Services (ECS) posters. Created in 1998 these resources are proudly all Australian content, design and images and were the first educational resource to be offered to parents, carers, and guardians right across Australia.

The ECS posters aim is to communicate effectively the valuable role child care professionals play in the development of children, families, and communities.

These posters are supported by the major child care industry associations, child care

26

centres, early childhood training organisations and providers of related services and have been highly regarded and sought after for over 12 years.

Early Childhood Services have now released a third series of 12 subject posters, including Parent Information Board, Parent Information Nights, Relationships and Communication (with staff and children), Cultural Diversity, Environment and Science, Healthy Eating and Nutrition, Hygienic Routines, Singing & Chanting, Gross Motor Skills, Restful Experiences, Problem Solving and Transitions.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

To check out these great resources and order yours today visit www.childhoodresources.com.au or call Gerry on 0414 611 960.

TM

CHC08 COMMUNITY SERVICES TRAINING PACKAGE

ISO 9001:2008 LIC 14255 SAI Global

Human Resources Matters

Should you Allow Staff to Provide Care for Families Outside of the Centre?

In today’s fast paced life many parents work long hours and require varying levels of childcare cover.

The standard working week for parents is certainly no longer 9–5, Monday to Friday and child care centres are not always able to cover all hours of care that some parents require. This results in families not only looking to child care centres to care for their children during the day, but will often ask centre staff to work evenings and weekends.

For many centres this can cause a major conflict of interest, blurring the lines between professional work life and home. As a centre director or owner where do you draw the line in distinction between the two? You need to ensure that you have happy, satisfied families, but you also need to protect your staff and centre.

All of this can be a delicate issue that needs to be handled with both professionalism and tact. From speaking with directors at child care

Ryan Meldrum is the founder and Managing Director of Expect A Star.

Expect A Star are specialist recruiters in the Early Childhood sector operating in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth. www.expectastar.com.au

28

by Ryan Meldrum

centres, there are a number of conflicts that can arise from allowing staff to care for families outside of the centre.

A request for extra care from a parent can put staff and directors in a confronting and difficult position, if there is not a centre policy in place. It can result in children and staff developing an extra special attachment or bond, often to the detriment of the other children in care.

What happens if the staff member cancels a baby-sitting shift at the last minute, or simply doesn’t turn up? Is the centre responsible? Or worst case scenario what if an incident occurs that puts the child in danger or results in damage to the house or personal effects of the family. It is very easy to get a parent to agree to the fact that it is a private arrangement at the time of arranging the care, but you can guarantee that if something were to go wrong this would be quickly forgotten!

As an added service we have received great feedback from directors at centres currently working with Expect A Star, and most importantly has been incredibly popular with parents. Offering the baby-sitting service ensures that centres and directors are able to maintain clear and professional lines between their staff, families work and home life. A centre with a policy in place, backed up by the support of a professional service to recommend can add value to the centre in comparison with other centres in the area.

We have found the baby-sitting service also to be of tremendous benefit to parents, especially those not supported by a network of grandparents or family.

The access to baby-sitters can really come into play when a child is too unwell to attend child care, and neither parent is able to take the day off work.

From speaking with directors at child care centres, there are a number of conflicts that can arise from allowing staff to care for families outside of the centre.

Working in conjunction with centres and directors, Expect A Star has expanded the services currently available and provided to child care centres throughout Australia.

So that now not only do we provide qualified, experienced and high quality staff to centres, but these same staff are now also available to work privately for families through our baby-sitting service.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

Parents can simply book a carer to look after the child in the comfort and safety of their own home and they can request the same regular baby-sitter, so there is still a relationship and bond built between the child and the carer.

As we raise your awareness to what options are available for your centre you can be assured in working with Expect

Human Resources Matters

A Star we will connect your families with additional care options for those emergency circumstances and are supported by our dependable, honest, experienced and qualified carers. As a centre director you will be confident because the baby-sitters are hand selected from our extensive database, ensuring the highest quality. Similar to child care centres booking casual staff,

we are able to have a carer out to the families home at quite short notice, in some cases under an hour.

A fully professional service like the one on offer from Expect A Star, guarantees accessibility to parents and confidence for a centre director in making a recommendation or referral. It allows directors and

centre owners to avoid any possible conflict of interest and maintenance of professional working relationship between families and staff. We encourage you to explore all providers but we are in a position to assist your centre stand out from the competition by offering access to comprehensive, professional care for families in every instance.

The new 1:4 ratio ‌ Can your business afford the change?

Media reports have claimed there will be an increase in fees of more than $20 per day.

The Government say 57 cents! What is the impending change going to cost YOU? Discover the real cost with a Ratio Analysis.

Our projections to date are a realistic increase between $2 and $7 per day.

Get the facts for $352 (incl GST). Ask about our member discount!

Contact Succeed Consultancy today to receive your expert analysis.

P: 1300 077 248 E: enquiries@succeedconsultancy.com.au Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

29

Give your centre the competitive edge with the AlphaTykes bilingual program.

Just imagine the serious market advantage your centre would have if it were a bilingual learning centre where every child learns a foreign language every day.

For as little as $1 per child per day, the AlphaTykes bilingual program can be integrated into your centre so that the children learn French, Spanish or Italian every day. They will be fully conversant in core phrases, numbers, alphabet, colours and basic vocabulary before they even start school!

Childcare centres around Australia are already experiencing the difference the AlphaTykes program makes to their business.

Call AlphaTykes today and see what a difference $1 can make.

www.alphatykes.com.au Email: bilingualcentres@alphatykes.com.au Phone: 1300 61 22 88

INSURANCE Matters

Building Blocks for a Safer Centre

by Michael Woger

All child care centres seek to provide a safe environment for the children in their care, and for staff and parents. The key to creating and maintaining a safe environment at your centre is through the effective management of risks.

There are Risks Everywhere in Your Centre From those common risks where the consequences are slight, to the risks where the consequence can be severe, there are risks everywhere in your centre, and their likelihood is effected by the attention they are given.

Although many of the risks in your centre are being managed, our experience in protecting child care centres for more than 30 years tells us that there are also likely to be some risks being overlooked and that could be managed better.

How do you Find Them?

Guild Insurance’s new website Riskequip for Child Care aims to help child care centres improve the way that they manage risks.

For Riskequip, we have drawn on our experience as a leading insurer of child care in Australia. Working closely with child care associations and the industry has helped in developing our understanding of the key areas of exposure faced by child care centres.

Are you Aware of all Your Risks?

The first area of Riskequip that I’d like to draw your attention to is under the heading of Your Risks. This section helps you to identify where your centre may be exposed to risk and provides advice on how you can manage these risks.

This section is designed to stimulate thinking about creating a safer environment by identifying potential risks at your centre. We have included a number of real examples of incidents

from child care centres that illustrate how easily things can go wrong.

Remember that the responsibility for the management of risk at your centre lies not with any one person.

It requires the combined efforts of all at your centre and for this reason, there’s benefits to be gained from directing all centre staff to Riskequip as well.

There are risks to manage from the car park to the playground.

An awareness of the range of risks that your centre faces is the first step to maintaining effective supervision of your environments and reducing the likelihood of accidents and injuries occurring.

In Your Risks, we highlight: • your centre’s risks when supervising children and the accident and injuries that can occur, • occupational health and safety risks for your staff, • risks to parents and visitors to your centre, • your business risks including security, and • how to handle an incident, if one occurs.

How well is Your Centre Managing Risk?

The second area within Riskequip is Self Check Q & A. In this section you can measure how your centre manages risk by answering a range of questions, enabling you to identify any opportunities for improvement.

We encourage your centre to discuss the results of the Q&As at staff meetings, using these as a tool to assist in identifying risks around the centre and reducing the likelihood of an incident occurring.

Article Library Finally, Riskequip hosts a library of articles on a variety of topics such as eliminating cash losses, addressing workplace stress and creating a safe environment for children and parents.

Each article provides further insight into managing risks in child care.

Using Riskequip can help you in the task of maintaining a safe environment, in meeting your duty of care, and in protecting your centre’s reputation.

I encourage all at your centre to take a minute to think about risk and use this free resource as your guide to minimizing incidents and maintaining a safe environment for your centre.

Visit www.riskequip.com.au/childcare

Michael has been employed with Guild Insurance for 16 years and has experience in the field of professional indemnity, public liability. Workers’ Compensation & OH&S. As a member of the Risk Management team at Guild Insurance Michael been responsible for producing the Riskequip for Child Care website and other risk management resources including articles and publications for the child care industry.

The body of work produced by Guild Insurance’s Risk Management team has been acknowledged at the Australia and New Zealand Insurance Industry awards, where they were awarded with the Risk Team of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

31

Financial Management Matters

Driving Your Centre to Best of Class Performance

by Patrick Flanagan and Bradley Loftus

For those readers who are not motor racing aficionados, I beg your indulgence, as the central tenet in the following anecdote is really about achieving the very best of outcomes available to you.

At the time of writing Australian Mark Webber is poised with a chance to become our next Formula One champion, the last being Alan Jones way back in 1980. Not a bad effort for a small town ACT boy who worked incredibly hard for years to rise to prominence on the international stage.

Regardless of whether Mark wins the championship in the concluding race at Abu Dhabi, he has achieved what is termed “Best of Class” performance in the motor racing world, which is incredibly competitive. His achievements have been characterised not by luck or chance, but a constant search for continuous improvement to reach the Best of Class benchmark, along with Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton and Button.

So what has this anecdote to do with operating a child care centre? Well, just

Patrick Flanagan is a Principal with Guild Accountants specialising in the childcare sector. Patrick has worked as a Chartered Accountant servicing the healthcare services sectors for over twenty years, both in Australia and Europe. Patrick leads a business advisory team dedicated to childcare clients, providing leading edge taxation planning, structuring and business solutions.

32

like Formula One, the childcare sector is becoming intensely competitive, and is subject to significant levels of regulatory change. So one of the keys to success is to understand what financial goals are worth shooting for, and then developing the right strategies and tactics to attain the desired outcomes.

How Do I Measure My Relative Position?

It should only be natural in a competitive environment to want to look around at others in the same sector to gauge your own progress and level of success.

When in business, benchmarking can be a good way to find this gauge.

The problem is, however, that easily accessible sector benchmarks may not be the most relevant to your business and often only give you an indication of ‘average’ performance.

The parallel here is that Mark Webber, despite his passion, commitment and talent, struggled mid-field for years due to a lack of quality resources and support.

One of the keys to succeeding in a competitive environment is to find areas within your business where cost and time efficiencies can be improved, or the resources you have engaged are under performing. By comparing the costs of your business (as a percentage of income) to the same data from businesses within the sector, you can not only identify areas where you perform well but, more importantly, areas which can be improved.

Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

So benchmarking gives us a picture if you like of where we are placed, just like a scoreboard at a sporting event.

Benchmarking is, however, not just limited to cost analysis. Examining sector performance and efficiency ratios is also an essential tool to help gain an understanding of how your business can improve. Examples of these ratios include: • Fees generated per staff member, • Fees generated per child, • Occupancy Rates.

It is important during this process to ensure that you are comparing “Apples with Apples”. Factors you need to consider include: • Am I comparing my centre to those in the sector with similar characteristics?

• Are there characteristics of my centre that do not fit sector norms?

• Are there items that need to be adjusted (e.g. proprietor’s drawings, management fees and leasing charges) to ensure I am comparing the right information?

It is best to have a broad range of data available for comparison. Data needs to cover variations such as the size of centres, centre locations, age group mix and whether a centre owns or rents its premises. When data is not tailored to a specific circumstance analysis can quickly become unreliable. For example, there is no point comparing the financial

Financial Management Matters

data of a large regional centre with that of a small suburban centre.

Each centre varies in its profile for reasons such as corporate structure, financing mix and the participation and remuneration of owners. It is important to ensure adjustments are made to your data to ensure that it is comparable to sector averages. For example, it is important that a centre, where an owner is performing the role of a centre director for a minimum wage, is not misconstrued to be over performing.

In this case a market rate should be imputed into the data to ensure comparability. If these adjustments are not made then decisions may be compromised when identifying areas for improvement.

Best of Class Benchmarking Often the process of benchmarking only provides the user with affirmation that

their business is producing ‘average’ performance or, where performance is above the benchmarks, there is no ‘measuring stick’ to gauge how far above average the business is.

Unlike other benchmarks Best of Class doesn’t compare you to the middle of the pack but instead measures your performance against the leaders of the sector. Comparing your cost and revenue profile, and performance ratios, to that of an efficient sector leader can provide greater insight into what you are doing well and areas which require improvement.

By way of example we recently conducted a centre review, which has had historically strong results.

Notwithstanding this, we were able to identify potential areas for further improvement, particularly in the market positioning of fees, and the method by which the centre director

Child Care Courses • Certificate III • Certificate IV • Diploma • New Advanced Diploma

was remunerated. These were areas in which the centre was generally performing serviceably, but was not operating at Best of Class.

Obtaining a clear focus for your efforts will ensure that time and money are directed to the tasks which will give you the best return for your investment.

Regularly taking time to step back from your business, and to assess it objectively, is essential. Relevant benchmarks for the best performers are a reliable ‘measuring stick’ needed to ensure these assessments are as constructive as possible, and provide a road map for future wins in your business.

If you want to gain an understanding of how you rate and to find ways to improve your business, call the Guild Accountants Childcare team on 1800 101 296, or email on childcare@guildgroup.com.au

AustrAliA wide

New Teacher Aide National Courses • Certificate III • Certificate IV • Diploma

1300 139 406 | www.accco.com.au | www.aats.biz Childcare Business Matters | Issue 8

33

Want to get your

Cash Flow moving?

Then you can’t go past Australia’s leading direct debit solution It’s really concerning how much time can be spent chasing late childcare fees. Especially when it’s time you could be spending with the children.

Ezidebit gives your Childcare Centre more control over its cash flow. Childcare fees are paid automatically on a set day and frequency by either direct debit or BPAY. You can even vary the amounts collected from individual parents as required. And best of all, Ezidebit can integrate directly with your software. Just think of the administration time it could save you!

Improves Cash Flow Increases Customer Retention Provides Payment Reliability Improves Affordability of Your Service Reduces Late Payments Reduces Administrative Costs Saves Time Low Fees Integrates with Your Software

Contact our team today to have Ezidebit working for your Centre.

ezidebit.com.au | Call 1300 763 256 | info@ezidebit.com.au