What would you like to grow?

FamilyJuly 2011

www.pwc.com

PwC

We started a conversation

2July 2011

We started a conversation about growth, and Australians responded across a range of topics.

We asked what you wanted for the future, what plans you had and what your hopes were.

One of the topics that was important to a lot of those who joined the conversation:

Family

PwC

And why family?

3July 2011

When some Australians thought of growth they thought of their private life and what they would like to nurture and develop.

The big topics were…

PwC

The big topics

4July 2011

Again and again we saw the issue of time spent with family discussed.

Whether through a need for a better work life balance or through other commitments, Australians clearly want to find more time in the day for the ones they want to be with.

Time

PwC

What would you like to grow?

5July 2011

I’d like to grow my relationships with my family and loved ones, who often don’t get the attention they deserve because I’m often too busy with work. By: Sao-Mai // Date: 20/09/2010

The amount of time I spend with my family.By: Anonymous // Date: 04/10/2010

I want to grow the amount of family time I haveBy: Anonymous // Date: 06/10/2010

PwC

What would you like to grow?

6July 2011

Quality of time with family. By: Anonymous // Date: 04/10/2010

The time I have to spend with my partner and family. By: Anonymous // Date: 04/10/2010

Work, life balance with work and family. By: Vicki // Date: 07/10/2010

PwC

What would you like to grow?

7July 2011

And some took a lighter look at what quality time meant:

The amount of time my niece sleeps when she comes to visit… 3.12am is not playtime!By: Sarah // Date: 19/10/2010

PwC

The big topics

8July 2011

There was the desire to start a family or to grow the family you already had.

Australians continually mentioned wanting to have their first child, or more children.

Key to this was a desire to get into a position where they feel they can expand their family.

Another conversation was around children.

PwC

What would you like to grow?

9July 2011

The size of my familyBy: Anonymous // Date: 04/10/2010

I’m really excited to be growing my family, I have a little one on the wayBy: Rochelle // Date: 04/02/2011

Family, a lot more kids By: Valerie// Date: 07/10/2010

PwC

What would you like to grow?

10July 2011

I would like to grow my family through having another childBy: Sam // Date: 07/10/2010

Bigger familyBy: Rodney // Date: 07/10/2010

I would like the opportunity to grow my fortune and secure a future which would allow me to provide the best education and opportunities for my children and provide for my family. By: Percy// Date: 06/10/2010

PwC

What is it about children?

11July 2011

PwC

What is it about children?

12July 2011

Both the factors of time and children, were strong themes in a recent PwC publication “A practical vision for early childhood education and care”.

The purpose of this publication was to help shape Australia’s national discussion of early childhood education and care (ECEC).

It was created by PwC in collaboration with some of the world’s leading experts in early childhood.

PwC 13July 2011

A practical vision for early childhood education and care

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and care

14July 2011

What did we learn?

PwC 15July 2011

We looked at a number of factors of ECEC to understand the current state. This included:

A practical vision for early childhood education and care

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and care

16July 2011

And did some analysis around ownership, cost and staff experience:

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and care

17July 2011

We proposed four key principles that should underpin the future development of ECEC service delivery in Australia:

1. The interests of the child are paramount

2. Parents have the primary role in their child’s development

3. ECEC services should be universally accessible

4. All ECEC services should be of high quality to support good developmental outcomes

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and careRecommendations

18July 2011

Building on these principles, and reflecting on current challenges and opportunities within the sector, we propose a series of high level policy settings that should form the basis of future ECEC service delivery.

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and careRecommendations

19July 2011

Expand the commitment to measures that drive quality improvement

•Governments continue to pursue and extend a national regulation and quality improvement framework.

•Governments monitor and review the effectiveness of the National Quality Framework in improving the quality of ECEC Services.

•Governments undertake workforce development measures to expand the number of early childhood professionals and to provide appropriate registration and professional development opportunities.

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and careRecommendations

20July 2011

Flexible funding driven by the needs of families and children

•The primary objective of funding should be to provide universal access to high quality ECEC services, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to participation for any children or families.

•Given the mixed market approach in ECEC in Australia, funding should be predominantly provided through a subsidy to services based on the parents choices so that funding follows the child.

•The level of subsidy should be based on the coast of a model of a high quality service and be subject to variation to reflect high needs children or high cost locations.

•Funding should, as far as possible, be available to child care and preschool services in ways which promote the development of a unified system of ECEC.

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and careRecommendations

21July 2011

Strategic monitoring and engagement to ensure the right services are available in the right places

•All levels of government undertake regular analysis of supply/demand at macro and local levels.

•High quality date aligned to children’s outcomes and service delivery frameworks informs the decision-making of governments, industry, and parents.

•Governments undertake strategic interventions to influence the service delivery mix as necessary, utilising funding levers (such as tailored funding rates and grants) or direct service delivery to ensure public policy objectives are met.

PwC

A practical vision for early childhood education and careRecommendations

22July 2011

Investment levels that match the importance of ECEC

•Public investment in the sector is increased to reflect the recognised value of ECEC services.

•Alternative investment models attract investment to the sector.

PwC

What is it about children?A practical vision for Early Childhood Care and Education

23July 2011

You can read more about the report and download a copy for yourself here: http://bit.ly/PwC_ECEC

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With family and children came the topic of stability

24July 2011

The last key aspect people mentioned in relation to wanting to grow a family was to secure a comfortable future.

Safety and stability, both financially and in day to day life were continually cited as the thing Australians want to grow most.

PwC

What would you like to grow?

25July 2011

I would like to grow investments, so that my family will not have financial issues once I get older and retire. By: Anonymous // Date: 09/09/2010

I think we’d all like that! Getting older and planning your finances is a daunting thought.By: Bevan // Date: 18/09/2010

I’d like to grow my savings, to someday know the future generations of my family are more stable.By: Drew // Date: 20/09/2010

I would like to grow my fortune and secure a future which would allow me to provide the best education and opportunities for my children and provide for my family.By: Percey // Date: 06/10/2010

PwC

So, what have we learnt?

26July 2011

Family was, naturally, a hugely popular and passionate topic for what Australians wanted to grow.

People wanted to make it more of a focus in their life, and to make sure that the ones they love are well cared for now and for the future.

PwC

What do you think?

27July 2011

• Do we as a nation focus too much on the importance of family or not enough?

• Do Australians who listed wanting to grow the size of family represent those who’ve put off having children, compared to previous generations?

• Do you find yourself agreeing with the majority of statements?

• Is family, children and the state of ECEC as important to you and your friends?

• Or do you think there are more important things in your life to focus on?

Share your thoughts with the world at:

© 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers. All rights reserved. In this document, “PwC” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers a partnership formed in Australia, which is a member firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, each member firm of which is a separate legal entity.

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