Victoria Continues to Build a Strong Future for Young Citizens

Media release

20 May 2021

Today’s Victorian Budget reinforces the state’s position as the ‘Early Childhood Education State’, leading investment in early learning in Australia.

‘The Victorian Government continues to blaze the trail for early childhood education policy in this country,’ said Elizabeth Death, CEO of the Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA).

‘Watching the rollout of subsidised kindergarten for three-year-olds in Victoria shows us what’s possible. This is a great example of evidence leading the development of policy, and a government recognising early education as an investment, not a cost burden.’

‘We are particularly pleased with the allocation of $32.4 million in this year’s Budget for attraction and retention of early childhood teachers. We know that high-quality early learning depends on having skilled teachers available, in all locations across the state.’

ELACCA also welcomes additional funding for the Early Years Management system, which will help ensure that kindergarten providers get the support they need to run great services for Victoria’s children.

On child mental health, ELACCA applauds the Victorian Government’s investment in a new designated service stream of mental health care for new parents and children up to 11 years old. Early intervention is critically important for young children and parents experiencing mental ill-health, to give them every chance of thriving futures.