Media release
3 February 2025
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the Federal Government’s news that it will introduce legislation this week in support of its 3 Day Guarantee to early learning and care. The 3 Day Guarantee will provide Australian children with access to three days of high-quality early learning and care, and amend the activity test as a requirement to access childcare subsidies.
ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death welcomed this announcement, ‘We are delighted to see this announcement from the Ministers Clare and Aly today,’ Ms Death said. ‘ELACCA, together with our sector colleagues, has long advocated for the removal of the activity test. This ‘softening’ legislation is a positive first step. We firmly believe that every child should have access to high-quality early learning and care, regardless of their parent’s work or study circumstances’. Ms Death said.
‘This reform will make a significant difference to increase the accessibility of early learning and care, to children who have the most to gain from attending. We urge all parties to support this legislation in both Houses to pass in the current sitting fortnight. Australia’s children deserve your support’ 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.
It is understood that approximately 126,000 children from lower-income families are missing out on early learning and care. ‘ELACCA has long been advocating for the activity test to be removed, 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.’ Ms Death said. ‘We know that children from families facing vulnerability and disadvantage deserve all the support the government and sector can muster.’
‘We look forward to the opportunity to work closely with Government and our members, to ensure we continue to build upon an innovative, affordable and high-quality early learning and care sector for all children, particularly those experiencing vulnerability and/or 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.
