How to get better childcare - New ideas for kids and parents. Over a million children are in childcare in Australia. As parents weigh up the benefits of returning to work, they are also turning to creative ways to deal with common issues such as long waiting lists, exorbitant costs, and inflexible hours. The Abbott government may have abandoned the paid parental leave scheme, but fixing childcare remains on the agenda. Insight asks: What other innovative ideas are worth exploring? What reform should the government be looking at?