NSW: Home alone children scared while parents at work: survey

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-2008
NSW: Home alone children scared while parents at work: survey

A survey shows children who are left home alone outside school hours .. while their
parents work .. are stressed and some fear being kidnapped or attacked.

Children aged nine to 14 years .. from the Tweed Shire, Campbelltown and Sutherland
.. were surveyed as part of a NSW parliamentary committee submission by the Network of
Community Activities .. which represents out-of-school hours care services.

News Ltd newspapers report one child saying his greatest fear was that his 12-year-old
brother who went home alone each day could get hurt or kidnapped.

Network spokesman ROBYN MUNRO-MILLER says all the children interviewed had general
concerns about their safety .. with some holding fears they could be raped or attacked.



The parliamentary committee on children and young people is conducting an inquiry into
the needs of children aged nine to 14 .. and has found that by the time their youngest
child has reached the age of 10 .. 71 per cent of mothers have returned to the workforce.

The committee has been told that many parents don't know what to do with their children
for out-of-school care once they reach high school age.

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KEYWORD: CHILDREN (SYDNEY)

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