FREE CHILDCARE A COST-OF-LIVING GAMECHANGER FOR FAMILIES: ADVOCATES WELCOME GREENS’ POLICY

The Greens’ intention to prioritise free, universal early childhood education and care in the next Parliament has been welcomed by parents’ advocates, who say it would have a significant impact on the cost of living.

Greens leader Adam Bandt will announce the party’s new policy in Melbourne today alongside the party’s spokesperson for early childhood education and care, Senator Steph Hodgins-May, and Macnamara candidate Sonya Semmens.

The Parenthood Campaign Director Maddy Butler said the cost of early learning and care had been growing four times as fast as inflation.

“Families are paying out-of-pocket fees of around $50 a day for early learning and care. If you’ve got two kids attending four days a week, that’s $400 a week right there,” Ms Butler said.

“If we want to talk about bringing costs down for Australian families, this is how we do it.

“Early education and care is an essential service for families. It not only enables parents to return to work after the birth of a child, it is shown to benefit the long term health and wellbeing of children.

“Children who have the opportunity to attend high-quality early education and care are shown to do better throughout their schooling years, have improved health outcomes, and are less likely to come into contact with the justice system.

“The cost of early learning on families has been identified as the third fastest growing component of CPI, up by a whopping 10.7 per cent in the 12 months to September 2024.

“Families need immediate relief from the high costs of early childhood education and care so that every child has the opportunity to access the benefits. Making it free would be a game-changer for parents.”

Ms Butler also praised the Greens’ policy’s focus to urgently address long waitlists and expand access for children in “childcare deserts”, which are mainly in the regions, and in outer-suburban and lower-income areas.

“Both the Greens’ and the Government’s commitments to alleviating childcare deserts will be welcome news to communities without access.

“The Parenthood’s work in the regions has highlighted the desperate need for early education and care, and the impacts the current lack of services has not only on regional, rural and remote families, but on whole communities and local economies.

“A $2 billion Childcare Desert Fund will bring welcome relief to many areas.”

The Greens’ policy also offers expanded funding to make early learning services more accessible for families with disability and additional needs.

It includes additional investment in Aboriginal Community Controlled early learning and a commitment to work with First Nations organisations to develop a new funding model, recognising the overwhelming evidence that shows Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids thrive in culturally-safe, community-led early childhood education and care.

“High-quality, inclusive, accessible, culturally-safe early learning services are what’s best for families. Greater investment should flow to ACCOs, which are best placed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children,” Ms Butler said.

“We welcome The Greens’ announcement today.

“Early childhood education and care is a top issue for this federal election and we look forward to working with all parties and politicians to deliver a universal, high-quality early childhood education and care system for the future.”