Family First warmly welcomes actress and child‑safety advocate Madeleine West for amplifying a bold and much‑needed reform: allowing government childcare subsidies to flow directly to parents, grandparents, or in‑home carers like nannies.

Her message rings true with Family First’s commitment to restoring parental choice and dignity — and putting family safety at the centre of policy. (Herald Sun)

As a mother of seven and survivor of childhood abuse, Madeleine is painfully aware of the risks that can lurk within institutional care settings.

She argues that “when there is no access, there is no abuse” — reinforcing that families should not be forced into institutional care because they lack other options. (Adelaide Now)

Family First has long believed that government support must empower parent‑led caregiving, not preference institutional settings over the home.

Family First’s recent media release reiterated that real parental choice means giving families direct access to subsidies — whether for parent‑care, grandparents, or trusted carers — to ensure safety and the freedom to choose the best for each child. (Herald Sun)

Moreover, Madeleine’s advocacy arrives at a crucial moment. Peak health and research bodies highlight the importance of parental attachment in the earliest years of life.

Family First, too, supports reforms like income‑splitting, so that tax and subsidy systems don’t penalise families opting for one‑parent‑at‑home arrangements. (familyfirstparty.org.au)

Madeleine West’s voice is a clarion call: families deserve real choices, not one-size-fits-all mandates.

Family First stands ready to champion policies that give families control, maximise safety, and honour the irreplaceable role parents play in nurturing the next generation.