Canberra families pay most for childcare, according to Productivity Commission

Productivity Commission data released on Thursday revealed the ACT's 354 National Quality Framework-approved early childhood services reported more than 500 serious incidents last financial year.

Of those, 424 related to injury, trauma or illness suffered while in care, 44 were instances of children being locked in or out, taken away or lost, and emergency services attended centres 59 times.

The figures translated to an average of almost 150 serious incidents per 100 National Quality Framework-approved services, well above the national average of 99.3. Queensland followed on 120.4 incidents per 100 services.

As well, there were 50 instances of an ACT early childhood education and care service failing to meet the relevant legislation, regulations or conditions. That translated to 14 breaches per 100 services, well below the national average of 97.9.

Almost 40 per cent of Canberra's child care staff were without the relevant qualifications or experience, the report showed, while just 66.6 per cent of services met or exceeded the National Quality Standards.

Despite this, ACT families forked out more than anyone else for child care. Canberrans paid an average $545 a week for 50 hours in long day care and $520 a week for family day care, compared to $448 and $388 nationally.

The ACT government ordered an internal review of Canberra child care services after a similarly damning Report on Government Services in 2016. The report has not been made public.

An Education Directorate spokesman focused on the positives of the report, pointing out the ACT had the highest proportion of children in childcare and an increase in early childhood and care services exceeding the National Quality Standard.

Almost all eligible children were enrolled in a preschool program, he said, including 95 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

"The ACT government's continued commitment to support the provision of 600 hours of free public preschool education for every child in the year before they start formal schooling is also providing benefits for Canberra children and equity in the community," he said.

"The government continues to work on our election commitment to develop an early childhood education and care strategy for the ACT on ways the government can improve the delivery of early learning in the territory."

Separate Education Directorate data released late last year showed 10 Canberra childcare centres and a family daycare provider were found in breach of national standards for issues including poor staffing arrangements and allegedly harming or losing children in 2016-17.

Almost 40 compliance actions were handed out by the authority in the same period.