Families will benefit from more affordable early learning and care, but government now needs to invest in the workforce ELACCA says

Media release

24 November 2022

Families will have access to more affordable early learning and care from July 2023 after the Australian Government’s Cheaper Childcare Bill passed this week.

The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the investment that will reduce out-of-pocket expenses for families, access to early learning for First Nations children, and increase transparency and integrity in the sector.

But ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death said the success of this investment requires the Australian Government to also invest in targeted action to retain and attract a stable, quality early learning workforce.

“Significant Government support is required to stem workforce attrition across the sector and ensure increased demand for places in 2023 can be met,” Ms Death said.

“To stop the mass exodus of staff in the early learning sector, ELACCA proposes an interim wages supplement for early childhood teachers and educators be considered, as part of a longer-term package of measures to stabilise the workforce.

“We are thrilled to have this new investment, and for early learning and care to be high on the Australian Government’s agenda, but without concurrent investment in workforce, the potential reach of the Bill may not be realised, dampening affordability and access reforms.

“We look forward to collaborating with Ministers Clare and Aly to urgently address the sector’s significant workforce challenges, with appropriate remuneration being the highest priority.” Ms Death said.

ENDS 

For more information please contact: 

Sally Maddison 

Early Learning and Care Council of Australia  

PO Box 348  

Annandale NSW 2038  

Mob: 0419368108 

E: [email protected] 

www.elacca.org.au 

About us: 

ELACCA is an association of the nation’s largest providers of early learning and care services including preschool/kindergarten, long day, outside school hours and family day care. ELACCA members comprise a significant percentageof the nation’s not-for-profit and private providers operating 2,387 services and providing early learning and care to approximately 336,000 children across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote locations across Australia. 

By leveraging its scale and reach to lead exceptional early learning outcomes for all our youngest Australians, ELACCA aspires to:

  • Progress the quality of early learning and care outcomes for all children 
  • Enhance the development and professionalisation of the early learning workforce; and 
  • Improve equity of access to early learning for all children. 

ELACCA brings an experienced and influential national voice to the early learning and care sector and is well positioned to provide strategic evidence-based advice and input to discussions, planning, policy development and media on all areas involving the sector in Australia.