Occupancy

Three groups totalling 141 centres across five states.

Percentage of days reported as being fully occupied across the groups are as follows:

Group 1 - 77 centres reporting 4.55% of days fully occupied

Group 2 - 37 centres reporting 4.32% of days fully occupied

Group 3 - 27 centres reporting 3.70% of days fully occupied

It appears that the development of centres has been put on the back burner.

Seventeen non performing centres were disposed off, albeit for a minuscule amount, eight were purchased with another nineteen supposedly settling by the end of this month. Will it increase the reported revenue from parents, yes, will they increase fees to improve revenue, undoubtedly, but it will do nothing to improve the occupancy levels.

New developments will continue, the main developers appear to be the smaller private owners and educators who are so disillusioned by some of the providers they work for, that they are setting up their own centres. If parents have any doubt about the care their current provider is delivering, they will move their child to any new early learning development that becomes available.

The new Jobs for Families package is not the magic wand that some hope it will be.

Recent advertisements by large providers for part time trainees, (trainees completing a Cert III) over two years rather than one, is viewed by many in the profession as an opportunity to meet ratio's with minimal outlay and experience. Great for cutting costs but unfavourable to delivering quality care.

The three main contributors to low occupancy are failure to deliver quality care that meets the needs of children and families, lack of connection with your local community and oversupply of centres. Providers need to and can improve and control two of those contributors because eventually cost cutting has a serious effect on your delivery of care.

The reported percentages above were as at Friday 6 October.

IMO & DYOR