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EXCERPTS
Child care has become so expensive that most people say returning to work is a waste of time.
Centres where demand outstrips supply regularly charge daily fees of more than $100, with many parents forced to seek alternative care options, including the child's grandparents.
The Sunday Telegraph/Seven News Australia Speaks survey found most people would prefer to stay home and look after their children, but are forced back to work for financial reasons.
However, 64 per cent of NSW respondents said child care was so expensive that working wasn't worthwhile.
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick said childcare affordability was a major problem.
"On my national listening tour, I have met women who are literally paying - rather than being paid _ to go to work, due to the costs of child care, vacation care and before- and after-school care,'' she said.
The lack of accessible, affordable, high-quality child care was a consistent concern and fixing the situation had to be a priority, Ms Broderick said.
Child Care NSW executive director Bruce Manefield said the federal Government had to address bracket-creep with the Child Care Benefit (CCB), to help reduce the burden on families.
"It is expensive and if we don't have better funding, we provide a lot less access,'' he said. ``By the time you pay child care and lose your family tax benefit Part B, some people are better off by about $20 per week if they go back to work.
"The gross daily fee hasn't gone up very much at all. Because wages have gone up and the Government hasn't increased the thresholds for CCB eligibility, the amount of out-of-pocket expenses has gone up significantly.''
While Mr Manefield accepted that many parents preferred to stay home with their children, he said child care provided a stimulating environment and fostered socialisation skills.
Sixty-five per cent of survey respondents agreed that one parent should stay home and look after children until they go to school, while 70 per cent said government policies should encourage enough affordable childcare services to meet demand.
Mothers Inc chief executive Claudia Keech said most mothers returned to work either for the financial rewards or to keep their foot in the door.
Although some mothers are left with only $20 or $30 after paying childcare fees, they continue working to leave their long-term career options open.
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Childcare Associations Australia president Amanda Morphett said child care placed a significant strain on family finances.
"The roll-out of the enhanced childcare tax rebate from July 1 will alleviate this and CAA hopes that it will soon be possible to deliver the rebate on a fortnightly, rather than a quarterly, basis,'' she said.
Combining work and family has proven a juggling act for many, and almost half the 44,000 respondents agreed that women can't have it all - career and family - and that "something's gotta give''.
Sharon Williams, mother of three and successful businesswoman, was among 39 per cent who disagreed (12 per cent weren't sure).
"I think you can have it all,'' she said. "The key is to be clear about what `having it all' means and to be in control, as much as possible, of your own life. I have my three children, I have a business, I have downtime.''
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"Given the range of barriers encountered by women who try to balance work and family responsibilities, there is inevitably a trade-off they are currently forced to make,'' she said.
"For most women, their priorities are clear. When push comes to shove, their children will come first.''
Among other findings, 62 per cent agreed that men don't take as much responsibility for home life as women.
- reprinted from The Daily Telegraph