Childcare

The ‘state of play’ of nannying here and in the USA

I’ve recently returned from a visit to the USA during which I attended the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA) conference. Those who attend this conference are running nanny agencies all over America and beyond, so collectively they provide a unique perspective on what is happening in the nanny industry in the States specifically, but with implications for all of us.

I subsequently interviewed Daryl Camarillo, who runs Stanford Park Nannies in the Silicon Valley area of California, and Kathy Webb, who runs HomeWork Solutions, a nanny payroll and tax compliance business on the other side of the country in Virginia. I wanted to get their views on where the nanny industry is  heading. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they describe issues that have many similarities to what is happening in Australia.

Making Dreams come true for the last 28 years!

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Meet Tonya Sakowicz of Newborn Care Solutions

For today’s new parent, there is an overwhelming volume of advice on offer, much of which changes almost week to week. Sadly this often creates confusion and even anxiety, making new parenthood much harder than it should be. For this reason alone I was very inspired by Tonya Sakowicz when I first met her, and I was keen to introduce her newborn care program to our Nurture Training College at the earliest opportunity.

We will find your Modern Day Equivalent Mary Poppins!

At Placement Solutions we pride ourselves in having the best quality professional nannies. Parents can rest assured and sleep easy at night knowing their children are in safe hands. We strive to always have happy, healthy and most of all safe children on our watch.

And about time too

We have been waiting for this for a long, long time. Finally we are hearing very strong noises from the Australian Tax Office confirming what we have been arguing, and in fact fighting for, for years. An ATO official investigating the tax implications of the Nanny Pilot Programme has confirmed that there are no circumstances – none – in which a nanny can be regarded as an independent contractor for tax purposes especially working through a private firm.

How much cleaning can a Nanny do?

A recent post here about our household management service touched on the difference between a Nanny and a cleaner. More specifically, it made the point that a Nanny is not a cleaner and should not be expected to do general household cleaning or other household chores. The only exception are tasks that are associated with child care.

Families in Crisis

Did you know there is help out there for families going through crisis whether it is financial or medical?  We are especially experienced in helping such families.  Some people may receive funding offered by the government.  Those families approved are allowed to access full child care funding to help them through a time of crisis.

Nanny Pilot versus Rebated Care

Did you know that the nanny pilot has started?!  It is a ‘new’ initiative proposed by the government to assist families who cannot access normal rebated care. Basically it is the same eligibility as normal in-home care requirements except you aren’t using up your CCR/CCB. We as an agency have been selected for regional and rural Victoria and hope to help as many families as we can.

An uneven playing field, with plenty of risk all around

I know I’ve written about this before, but the imminent report to government of the Productivity Commission inquiry into future options for child care and early childhood learning has had me thinking about the issue again: the problem of the ‘underground’ cash-in-hand in-home child care industry.

Highlights from Nannypalooza

I’ve just returned from the Nannypalooza conference in Cleveland, Ohio with a head full of new ideas and insights. Nannypalooza is an American organisation dedicated to supporting nannies through education and networking, and I was very grateful to be invited to their conference representing an agency. Very few agencies are involved in this conference as it really is all about the nannies.

Placement Solutions, Louise Dunham to Childcare Productivity Commission

 I am the CEO of Placement Solutions a private Nanny agency in operation since 1988 and an inaugural government approved In - Home care service since 2000.

Nannies,In home childcarers and the Productivity Commission into Childcare

The facts on government funding of Nannies

I would like to clarify a few of the facts relating to Nannies and in-home child care generally.The Productivity Commisssion into childcare are now in their second phase of  speaking to the public about the way forward for child care in Australia. I presented at the Commission  on behalf of Placement Solutions.