Our kids, our choice!
We are a leading independent voice for Australian parents — we are For Parents
Launched on 7 July 2025, For Parents is a leading independent volunteer-led parent advocacy group. Formed in response to the ongoing childcare crisis, we believe the Australian Government must support parents with real choice over who cares for their children while they work.
We’re calling for one powerful change: let working parents use the Child Care Subsidy for a wider range of care, including nannies, grandparents, au pairs, and co-working spaces that keep children close.
The one-size-fits-all approach to subsidised care is limiting workforce participation, particularly for women, and adding unnecessary strain to many households.
Why this matters
✔ Immediate support to families
✔ Reduce pressure on a system experiencing chronic workforce and safety challenges
✔ Boost workforce participation, especially among women
✔ Open up space for those who prefer centre-based care
✔ Improve family well-being, with more choice and flexible care
✔ Complement current policies broadening access to childcare
✔ Reduce loneliness for grandparents and older people taking on caring roles
Who benefits
✔ Shift workers & FIFO families
✔ Parents working long or irregular hours
✔ Regional and rural families
✔ Families managing health issues
✔ Families on waitlists and in childcare deserts
✔ Parents who want to keep their babies close while they work
✔ Breastfeeding mothers
✔ Parents who don’t want to, or can’t use daycare centres
Our Petition on Change.org
The Issue
We are calling on the Albanese Government to expand the Childcare Subsidy to allow families to direct their existing subsidy to a broader range of care options.
Right now, most families can only access the taxpayer-funded childcare subsidy for centre-based daycare. This system funnels money into the pockets of for-profit childcare owners - some of whom cut corners and sacrifice quality and child safety for profit margins. This has created a system where families are left with no choice but to continue with this model of care due to cost of living pressures.
The Australian Government should be helping parents to have more choice over who is caring for their children while they work.
We are asking for one simple but powerful change: Allow the Child Care Subsidy to be used for a broader range of care options, including care by grandparents, nannies, au-pairs and co-working spaces that allow parents to keep children close.
