In 2013 The Australia Institute released Trouble with childcare, which analysed the level of difficulties reported by families regarding the affordability of; access to; and quality of early childhood education and care services. The paper includes data and a number of findings relevant to the Inquiry into the delivery of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services. A summary of these findings (below) and the attached paper comprise the Australia Institute’s submission.

The price of childcare services continues to provide a financial difficulty for many households. Reported difficulties finding quality childcare services generally improved over the decade analysed. In 2010 more than twice as many households reported difficulties with the cost of childcare compared with finding quality services.

Analysis found that reported difficulties finding good quality childcare services increased from 2001 to 2003 before falling each year to 2006 before rising again in 2007. In 2010 15 per cent of households reported difficulties finding quality childcare services. It needs to be noted that the data relates to finding good quality childcare services rather than an assessment of satisfaction with the quality of current services. The trend in reported difficulties from 2001 to 2010 was similar to reported difficulties finding a childcare place.