A coalition of corporate and women's lobby groups has applauded the Abbott government's plan to trial funding for nannies, but some in the childcare sector have questioned how different the new policy will be from an existing program and raised concerns about nanny qualifications.
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On Tuesday, Social Services Minister Scott Morrison announced almost $250 million for a two-year nanny trial, providing funding to about 10,000 children.
The trial, first reported by Fairfax Media last week, will provide funds for about 4000 nannies and target low to middle income parents who do shift work, those who live in rural areas and those with special needs children from 2016.
Nannies will have to come from approved services, but they will not need to hold a minimum early childhood qualification.
The move was quickly welcomed by groups including the National Foundation for Australian Women, the Women's Electoral Lobby and Women on Boards, who said it should enable greater workforce participation for lower-income shift workers.
The Australian Nanny Association also welcomed the news, saying it was a recognition that nannies were qualified professionals and not babysitters or au pairs.
Spokeswoman Annemarie Sansom said there was an "unmet need" for families.
"Most workers don't work nine to five," she said. "The workforce is changing and childcare needs to move into the modern age."
But the Australian Home Child Care Association, while welcoming any increased flexibility, said the industry needed more information from the government.
In-home support for special needs children, families in remote areas and shift workers is already provided through a federal government in-home care program, which has about 7000 places.
"The minister's office really needs to give us some detail," Australian Home Child Care Association president David Wilson said.
Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young had similar concerns, noting: "This quite simply looks like a rebadging of the in-home care program.
"The minister needs to confirm whether this is new money or if it is being taken from the existing ... program."
Mr Morrison said there were "no implications" in his announcement "for current in-home care arrangements".
The move also prompted concern from others in the childcare sector, who are anxious that nanny services in the trial will not need to use qualified educators.
Early Childhood Australia has recommended that nanny services "must be properly regulated to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children".
This was echoed by the women's corporate and lobby coalition, which includes the National Foundation for Australian Women, which said it was not convinced that the initial nanny qualification guidelines were "sufficient".
The nannies trial is the latest component of the new families package, due to be released by the government before the May budget.
