Bushfire risk closes 200 childcare centres

01/12/2010

Working parents who live in areas of the Australian state of Victoria, which are prone to bushfires may welcome the assistance of an au pair during the country's summer season.

Due to some areas of the state being declared "code red" due to the risk of such fires today (January 12th), some 200 childcare centres and facilities have been closed down by the Education Department, The Age reported.

Australian authorities have also warned that youngsters should not be left with older children or alone if parents need to leave the home to go to work.

The northern country has closed109 childcare facilities and 85 have been shut down in the north-east.

According to the publication: "Today is a code red, or catastrophic, day for the Bureau of Meteorology's north-east region, which includes Wodonga and Wangaratta and northern country region, which includes Bendigo and Shepparton."

The Labor of Love blog notes that au pairs are a flexible way to ensure children are cared for and it is a cheaper form of childcare than some other options.