In the wake of the collapse of ABC Learning Centres, the Senate of Australia is holding an inquiry into childcare provision. The committee was due to report in March. This has now been extended to 18 June 2009. Inquiry’s terms of reference: a) the financial, social and industry impact of the ABC Learning collapse on the provision of child care in Australia; b) alternative options and models for the provision of child care; c) the role of governments at all levels in: - funding for community, not-for-profit and independent service providers, - consistent regulatory frameworks for child care across the country, - licensing requirements to operate child care centres, - nationally-consistent training and qualification requirements for child care workers, and - the collection, evaluation and publishing of reliable, up-to-date data on casual and permanent child care vacancies; d) the feasibility for establishing a national authority to oversee the child care industry in Australia; and e) other related matters. Submissions: - All submissions Selected submissions of interest: - Professor Deborah Brennan and Associate Professor Sue Newberry - Work and Family Policy Roundtable - Early Childhood Australia