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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Krishani Dhanji

No longer a ‘niche’ group: children with complex needs being turned away from childcare in Australia

A child draws at an early learning centre in Melbourne, Australia
Childcare industry figures say the government’s inclusion support program needs to be fixed before other structural changes are introduced. Photograph: Joel Carrett/AAP

Children with complex needs are being turned away from childcare centres due to funding gaps and staff burnout, with industry leaders warning federal government inclusion rules are having the reverse effect.

The government’s inclusion support program (ISP) is intended to provide additional staff for children with complex needs, but the funding amounts to half of that needed, with centres forced to pay the rest.

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