Welcome to the April edition of ECMS Engage.
We’re now deep into the political season with the State Budget handed down in Parliament this week and a Federal election on the horizon.
On Wednesday the State Government announced $188m of early childhood initiatives in the 2016/17 Budget. We applaud the Government’s bold promise to make Victoria the Education State. These initiatives are modest but a welcome start. They will provide intensive in-home support for families and help cater for the increasing demand for quality and sustainable kindergarten programs.
I look forward to working with the Victorian government to shape a long term plan for Victoria as the Education State. At the heart of this plan must be the promise that every Victorian child has an entitlement to access high quality early learning from birth. The first five years are the time to build the platform for lifelong learning, and the time to invest in building the Education State.
Looking ahead we have a Federal Election on the horizon and the prospect that the long overdue reforms to make access to childcare and early learning more accessible and affordable for families will be stalled. I’ll be meeting with Education Minister Simon Birmingham and the Shadow Minister Kate Ellis next week in Canberra to discuss their election commitments. The messages to our political leaders are clear:
- Access to high quality early learning benefits everyone.
- One in five Australia children are starting school developmentally vulnerable.
- Every dollar spent on education in the first five years generates a $7 return in later life – it’s an investment that pays all kinds of dividends.
Australia lags disappointingly behind the rest of the developed world in supporting access to quality early learning. I encourage you to join us in being champions for change. ECMS will continue to be champions for high quality, affordable early childhood education and care that is inclusive and accessible, especially for those who are vulnerable and at-risk.
If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to raise this with your local candidates as a priority in the upcoming election.
Warm regards,
Bernie