Fees could rise between $16 and $27 a day to accommodate for a proposal to increase the ratio of staff to children. As a result, childcare facilities would then be made to either employ more university-qualified staff and raise their prices or cut down on client numbers.

The Mercury understands that the existing average price for childcare in the Lower Hunter area per day is between $65 and $75 per child.

Kurri Kurri Early Childhood Centre director Jean Sharpe said she had looked at the proposed reforms and would review her situation if they were approved.

“If we wanted to maintain our numbers, we would have to employ more staff. Or we could cut back our numbers and possibly put off one of our workers,” Ms Sharpe said.

“If we were to maintain our numbers however, that extra cost of employing more staff would fall back onto the families that send their children here.

Ms Sharpe said the proposed changes didn’t surprise her, but she believed the cost of childcare in NSW was fast approaching the breaking point for most families.

Compared to most other states in Australia, the price of childcare in NSW was much higher and less affordable for the average family, she said.

“In the last 10 years there have been so many changes to childcare, but we take it in our stride,” she said.

“If they make it a law, then it’s law. What else can you do?”

Childcare centres have to provide one staff member for every five children and this will rise to one carer for every four children.

All centres with 25 children or more will be required to employ a university-trained teacher.