Media Release
24 November 2023
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the Productivity Commission’s draft report into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC).
The report includes ambitious recommendations to effect long-term, sustainable change for children in Australia – to improve availability, affordability, inclusivity and flexibility of quality early learning and care.
The report recommends that the Australian Government lead a coordinated effort to provide every child with access to three days a week of high-quality early childhood education and care, including fully subsidised ECEC for lower income families and relaxing the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) activity test as a barrier.
“ELACCA and its members have valued the opportunity to actively participate and contribute to the Productivity Commission’s review into Early Childhood Education and Care”, said CEO Elizabeth Death said. “We are really pleased to see a strong focus on equity, workforce and quality throughout this report”.
“The Commissioners are to be commended for the considerable amount of research, listening and learning that has been built into the draft findings”, Ms Death said.
ELACCA supports the following high-level findings and recommendations in the draft report:
- improving inclusion support for children living with a disability, and families from culturally diverse backgrounds.
- valuing and growing the early learning and care workforce, including accelerated pathways, similar to ELACCA’s existing workforce initiatives co-designed with universities.
- a focus on supporting children and families experiencing vulnerability, including relaxing the activity test and ensuring access to at least 3 days of early learning and care.
- establishing a National Partnership Agreement in ECEC.
- supporting the considered growth in supply of services in thin markets.
ELACCA looks forward to continuing to engage with the Productivity Commission over coming months, including working with our members to respond to information requests within the report.
The draft report A path to universal early childhood education and care can be accessed on the Productivity Commission’s website at:
https://www.pc.gov.au/inquiries/current/childhood/draft
Ends.
For more information please contact:
Sally Maddison
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA)
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 19 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 1,984 long day care services, 310 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the long day care places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,708 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.
