The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) led a consortium of researchers to evaluate the Australian Government’s Child Care Package (the Package). AIFS’ partners were:

• the Centre for Social Research and Methods (CSRM) at the Australian National University (ANU)
• the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at the University of New South Wales
• the Social Research Centre (SRC).

The final evaluation report is available now.

Publications

Evaluation of the Inclusion Support Program
Bray, J. R, Carroll, M., Baxter, J., Budinski, M., Gray, M., (2021). Evaluation of the Inclusion Support Program. (Research Report). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

In Home Care Evaluation Report
Australian Institute of Family Studies and Social Policy Research Centre. (2020). In Home Care Evaluation Report. (Research Report). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Child Care Package Evaluation: Final report  
Bray, J. R., Baxter, J., Hand, K., Gray, M., Carroll, M., Webster, R., Phillips, B., Budinski, M., Warren, D., Katz, I., Jones, A. (2021). Child Care Package Evaluation: Final Report. (Research Report). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Child Care Package Evaluation: Early monitoring report 
Baxter, J., Bray, J.R., Carroll, M., Hand, K., Gray, M., Katz, I., Budinski, M., Rogers, C., Smart, J., Skattebol J., & Blaxland, M. (2019). Child Care Package Evaluation: Early monitoring report. (Research Report). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Snapshot reports

A series of snapshot reports prepared by AIFS, to highlight findings from the Child Care Package Evaluation: Final report.

Further information

The evaluation was based on the Evaluation Framework. Access more information online about the Early childhood education and child care package.

The Australian Government response to the evaluation can be found on the Department of Education, Skills and Employment website.

Acknowledgements

This evaluation was commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment (previously the Department of Education, Department of Education and Training).

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all of those who participated in or assisted with the evaluation, including families and services as well as representatives of peak bodies and other organisations with an interest in the Child Care Package.

We also acknowledge the helpful assistance of staff from the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment for their continuing collaboration, guidance and support.

Research team

Australian Institute of Family Studies  
Jennifer Baxter, Mikayla Budinski, Megan Carroll, Kelly Hand, Cara Rogers, Jessica Smart and Diana Warren

Australian National University  
J. Rob Bray, Matthew Gray, Richard Webster and Ben Phillips

Social Policy Research Centre  
Elizabeth Adamson, Megan Blaxland, Anna Jones, Ilan Katz and Jennifer Skattebol

Megan Bedford (Social Policy Research Centre), Marie Delany (Social Policy Research Centre) and Pam Muth (Social Research Centre) have provided valuable research assistance.

Fieldwork  
The fieldwork for the Survey of Early Learning and Care Services (SELCS) was conducted by the Social Research Centre. The fieldwork team was managed by Leon Head (Wave 1), Alexa Polichroniadis (Wave 2) and Eugene Siow. Additional qualitative data collection with parents was also undertaken by the Social Research Centre.