Occupancy 2017

Final occupancy figures for 2016, there will be no improvement between now and the end of the year.

Group of 82 centres covering 5 states. Weekly number of days of care available 410, days fully occupied out of 410 is 15.

What's happening to promote centres and improve occupancy for 2017? There is a bit of movement but not nearly enough. A positive though, there have been no more "giveaways" on offer. They are promoting "refer a friend, both get one week free" that's happening in quite a few centres, conditions apply. Drove past a G8 centre today, still advertising vacancies for 2016, if you are advertising vacancies for 2016 this late in the year, no one will be in any hurry to enrol for 2017 as you're advertising the fact you have plenty of positions available.

Again, I'm going to refer to the blanket approach, it does not work. The social media pages of three different large groups within G8 state the following - Group A state "we believe that consistency in care relationships....." Group B state "we believe that consistency in care relationships......." and Group C state "we believe that consistency in care relationships....".  

Communication and marketing delivering the individual philosophies and information on the quality of care provided by individual centres, targeted towards local communities and delivered in a professional manner is urgently required to improve occupancy.

From the beginning of December parents will gradually begin to withdraw children, who are commencing schooling in 2017 from  early learning centres. Forward planning on improving occupancy and the required staff to child ratios in line with actual enrolled placements for 2017 should be under careful consideration.