On 23rd November the Department of Education released a newsletter out to the sector advising that from 1st January 2023 early childhood education and care providers may offer only certain types of inducements.

Inducements that are financial or not directly associated with the quality or provision of education or care services will not be allowed. Some inducements include: cash, vouchers, IPads, tablets, electronic devices or other gifts. On the 7th December, the Australian Department of Education released a further newsletter advising the sector that third parties may not offer a family an inducement to enrol at your service.

Nurch have sought clarification from the Department of Education and unfortunately, they have confirmed they consider the rewards offered through Nurch (gift cards) as an enrolment incentive and therefore, we will no longer be able to offer the Nurch program from the 1st January 2023.
This is disappointing news to not only our centre, but to the families who have embraced the Nurch experience and reaped the rewards.

This government’s decision to discontinue reward programs such as nurch will have devastating effects to those who utilise the nurch program at times of need. 

For 13 years, I have had children in various centres often very little benefits and extreme costs at one point only coming home with $100 a week after childcare costs. Which is how come I found it so incredibly surprising that you and your department and shockingly a labor government, would seek to remove a program which benefits in subsidising the cost of living to parents who are already struggling with the increasing cost of childcare, and the rapidly rising rate of cost of living with a reduction/stagnation of incomes not matching that. 

This year, with our nurture points alone I was able to save over a $1000 worth of points, which benefited of not only our finances, but meant that I was able to provide a Christmas for my children as it covered their presents and their food and we were also able to take our children away on a short holiday. Due to me studying full-time to be a nurse and My Husband working tirelessly in healthcare as well, These benefits that our Day Care provided while may seem insignificant to someone else meant the world to us as I’m sure it does for many other families. 

support our families, support our community and show this government how ridiculous this decision was. Our voices have power, it’s time to use them.