Media release
14 February 2025
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) celebrates the passage of the Australian Government’s Three Day Guarantee Bill through Parliament this week. The Three Day Guarantee will enable every Australian child access to three days of subsidised high-quality early learning and care, regardless of their parents’ work or study circumstances.
‘We are absolutely delighted to see this legislation pass through Parliament’, ELACCA CEO Ms Elizabeth Death said. ‘ELACCA and our sector colleagues have long advocated for the removal of the activity test, to ensure that the families of children who have the most to gain from quality early learning and care are not faced with unnecessary barriers’.
‘We firmly believe that every child should have access to high-quality early learning and care, regardless of their family circumstances,’ Ms Death said.
‘ELACCA congratulates members of the Australian Parliament for their consideration and support of this important legislation – it will make a significant difference to increase the accessibility and affordability of early learning and care,’ Ms Death said.
Ms Death noted recent reviews and inquiries also recommended removing or reforming the activity test, including by the Productivity Commission and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
‘The Productivity Commission has modelled and recommended a pathway to universal early learning and care, that is affordable, inclusive and high-quality. This Bill is a significant first step, and ELACCA looks forward to working with Government to ensure we continue to build an early learning and care sector for all children.’
‘Implementing the child-first improvements recommended by the Productivity Commission are important next steps, including adjusting the taper to the Child Care Subsidy, to ensure improved affordability for all families, especially those facing vulnerability and disadvantage,’ Ms Death said.
ELACCA and our members are committed to a vision that every Australian child has access to high-quality early learning and care, delivered by a qualified, skilled and deeply valued workforce.
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For more information please contact:
Sally Maddison
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia
PO Box 348
Annandale NSW 2038
Mob: 0498 228 762
About us:
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system. Our 18 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 2,017 long day care services, 320 preschool/kindergarten services and 88 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 232,978 children and their families, and employ more than 59,000 staff.
As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public.
