Media release
6 April 2023
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) is pleased to welcome The Hon Prudence Car as the new Minister for Education and Early Learning in NSW.
“We are thrilled to welcome Minister Car to her new role and we look forward to working together to make quality early learning and care more accessible for NSW families,” ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death said.
“As the former Shadow Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, we know that Minister Car has an excellent understanding of the sector and the challenges we face.”
“It’s encouraging to see the Minns Government’s continued commitment to the early learning sector,” Ms Death said. “In addition to maintaining a commitment to universal access to four-year-old preschool by 2030, we are pleased to see investment in a suite of workforce initiatives including a Professional Development Fund for educators, $9m in scholarships for upskilling, and funding for Early Childhood Education and Care Research.”
“These commitments will provide ongoing opportunities for educators and ensure that more children have access to quality early childhood education and care.”
ELACCA is keen to work with Minister Car to build capacity within the early learning workforce, and boost the profile of the sector and its workforce across the state.
“We need to work together to ensure children in NSW continue to have access to high-quality early childhood education and care that will help to shape their future,” Ms Death said.
“To do this, we are committed to supporting the professional development of the early learning workforce. We will also continue working to secure a commitment from the Australian Government to fund a pay rise for our early learning and care workforce.”
Ends
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 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 early learning places in Australia. Together, our members serve 336,000 children and their families, and employ more than 53,000 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.