As we approach the end of another year our leaders and policy makers in Government are facing some big decisions about the future of early learning and care in our state and across the nation.
The opportunity for our national leaders to shape a bright future.
In the August, we outlined the ECMS response to the Productivity Commission’s draft report of its inquiry into child care and early learning in Australia. Late last year the Productivity Commission was tasked by the Federal Government to identify opportunities to improve child care and early learning for Australian children and families and the economy more broadly. In the past month I have met with the Commission to put forward our vision and blue print for the future.
In the coming weeks the Commission will release its final report and the Federal Government will ponder some big decisions – decisions that will impact many thousands of children, parents and families who access childcare and early learning across Australia.
We urge the Federal Government to do what is right for children, parents and the nation - invest in quality early childhood education and care and reap the long-term economic and social benefits to Australia.
A recent groundbreaking report by PwC – Putting a value on early childhood education and care in Australia presents a compelling proposition to Government for investment. According to PWC, there are potential cumulative benefits of more than $20 billion to the Australian economy that can be derived by continuing to lift quality standards and increase participation amongst children who are vulnerable and at risk.
The opportunity to end the uncertainty surrounding universal access
In the past month I welcomed the news that the Federal Government had agreed to continue the funding for universal access for another 12 months. This funding enables every four-year-old to access 15 hours per week of kindergarten in the year before school.
This announcement ends the uncertainty for parents and families attending kindergarten in 2015.
As a result, all ECMS kindergartens and preschools will be delivering 15 hour programs for four-year-old children in 2015.
However, the announcement is only the beginning – our Governments must end the long-term uncertainty, realise the educational, social and economic benefits of universal access and commit to ongoing funding for this important initiative.
The research into the benefits of quality early education in the years before school is both consistent and compelling. This research is leading other countries to provide access to early learning at a younger age. Our vision is a time when universal access is not just maintained for all four-year-old children but extended to children of a younger age, particularly vulnerable and at risk children.
The opportunity for a future Victorian Government to build on our success.
In the coming weeks Victorians will be going to the polls to elect a State Government for the next four years. Many of my interstate colleagues look with envy at Victoria’s achievements in increasing quality and participation in early education and care. However, a future Victorian Government cannot rest on its laurels – there is more we need to do to ensure all Victorian children are to realise the benefits of access to quality early learning and care.
ECMS will be calling on a future Victoria Government to:
- forge a vision to extend universal access beginning with a plan for Victoria’s vulnerable and at-risk children
- invest in the future of the early education workforce, including strengthening the career proposition of early childhood education
- invest in service models of the future – joined services that provide ease of access and smooth transitions through the early years into primary education.
These are important times for those that set the policy agenda for our work. I urge you to join us in advocating for long-term universal access to quality early learning and care for all Australian children.