The Parenthood has welcomed the announcement of Anne Aly as the new Minister for Early Childhood Education and Amanda Rishworth as the new Minister for Social Service.
The Parenthood Executive Director Georgie Dent said, “The Parenthood congratulates Dr Aly on her appointment to the ministry, and Ms Rishworth, on her return to Cabinet, and we’re excited by the potential for achieving real and transformative early learning reform over the coming weeks and years.
“Two weeks ago the then-Opposition Leader, now Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese and Amanda Rishworth joined me and members of The Parenthood to hear directly from parents about their personal experiences with Australia's broken early learning and care system.
“It’s this type of consultation and listening we’d like to continue, backed by swift and meaningful action to address the challenges families are facing and work towards universal access to quality early childhood education and care for every children.
“We need the new Minister to address the staff shortages in the sector, create genuine choices for Australian working parents, improve opportunities for all children to access early learning and give mums a decent shot at developing financial security.
“For too long early learning has been ignored or dismissed as welfare rather than early education and critical infrastructure for families, the outcome being that many Australian women have been forced to reduce their work and put their careers - and financial security - on hold.
“Early learning hasn’t been adequately valued which is why so many early educators are leaving and services are facing a workforce crisis.
“In his first address to the Labor caucus as Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese restated his bold ambition to make universal access to quality early learning and care a legacy of his government.
“With the backing of the Prime Minister and the experience of Amanda Rishworth in social services, Dr Aly will be well placed to lead the government’s signature reform.
“Investing more in early childhood education and care will pay dividends in supporting more women into paid work, growing employment in a female-dominated industry and giving children the best start possible.
“Few other opportunities for government can deliver such strong economic returns,as well as profound benefits for children, families, business and our community,” Ms Dent said.
