An international early childcare researcher will discuss the German experience of the commercialisation of the early childcare sector during a forum at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Albury-Wodonga at the School of Education on Wednesday 23 July. Professor Johanna Mierendorff, from Martin Luther University in Halle, Germany, investigated the entry of commercial interests in 2005 into the care of children aged 0 to 6 years, where traditionally the sector was dominated by small not-for-profit organisations. With the broader public concerned with possible detrimental effects on access to and quality of commercial services, Professor Mierendorff interviewed parents and commercial centre managers to find out how they coped with these concerns. The results suggest that the traditional German ideas of equality of opportunities in early childhood are challenged by the change in the provision of child care. In addition, the changed child care sector has provided new ways to understand parenthood and social equality and inequality in the country.