The Migration Alliance has made submissions to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into childcare and called for the introduction of a Live-in Carer visa, similar to the one offered in Canada.  MA's survey of members found overwhelming support for the introduction of a visa that would allow appropriately trained family-members into Australia to help care for young-children.

Any parent would know the ability to juggle those few hours before and after child-care/kindergarten drop-off and pick-up can make the difference between a parent staying home and going to work.

Help just in this area alone will free parents from a lot of stresses including the decision on whether to return to work, dealing with their employer on that matter of work/family responsibilities, running late from work, etc. And of course, the children will benefit from not being rushed about by potentially highly strung parents. A trained carers professional guidance and support will surely assist in a child’s development, and perhaps that of new parents as well.

Recently, the Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into future options for childcare and early childhood learning, with a focus on developing a system that supports workforce participation and addresses children's learning and development needs.

‘Workforce participation’ and ‘child-development’ were key terms of reference in the Productivity Commissions call for submissions.

MA would like to thank members for supporting its initiative and responding to its survey. The MA realises that the inquiry is a good opportunity to lobby for such a formal programme that currently seems to be loosely covered by a system of au-pairs on working holidays and student visas.

The survey results show that members strongly support this programme with some 91.8 percent calling for its early introduction. Respondents believe that there is a place for a Live-In Caregiver Programme in Australia to complement the current programmes of care such as child care centres. They also believe the programme could be extended to aged and disability care to complement nursing homes, disability services and other forms of institutional care settings.

In submitting the results of the survey to the Commission, MA’s Liana Allan stated that the programme, “will overcome some of the problems Australia is facing and going to be facing (at an increasing rate) for childcare and aged care in the years to come.  We believe that this visa type could go some way to having the cost of child care and location of child care kept at home.  This will also relieve the financial burden on the government.”

Of the 5 suggested assessment criteria for the programme, respondents considered as being the most important, the following: the ability to speak the language spoken in the home; transfer onto a permanent caregiver visa; and 6-12 months’ work experience.

Some 73 percent of respondents said they are very likely to utilise the service and would more likely endorse the programme if a family member is the caregiver. Most also said they were happy to fund the family member.

Overall, respondents agreed that the proposed programme matched their expectations of what Australia should be offering in terms of care; there is a need for this care in Australia in the next 10-20 years; and if the user pays for the Live-In Caregiver service then this reduces the burden to the economy – and perhaps help both parents and children enjoy the early years much more.