Govt child-care costs high

Press, 22 August 1978, Page 21

Govt child-care costs high

It cost the Government $195 a week to keep a child in a State children’s hbme jbut churches did the same Thing for $57 a week, said ith Minister of Social Welfare (Mr Walker) to the 'fourth Australian and New j Zealand conference of misisions and social services in |Christchurch on Friday evening. However, the churches’ 'share in child-care had decreased from half, 20 years lago to one-fifth today. The treasons for the decline were mot easily r efined but finance was obviously a significant , factor.

1 As the economy improved, i I Government assistance for J child-care and familv-support "services run by churches 5 would be increased. I Parents had the right to - choose between State and jchurch care for their child--i ren and to select spiritual) -and religious guidance fori II them, Mr Walker said. -I Church homes were more' effective in keeping families! Altogether. Their staff had al -:greater sense of vocation and' si stayed longer, giving child-' e'ren a stronger sense of! • I security. ! e About 100 persons enrolled ! t for the conference, about 30! of them from Australia.