The Parenthood welcomes the Queensland Government's consideration of a free kindergarten program. The state’s Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said the measure was being "seriously considered" ahead of the state budget next month.
“A free kindergarten program would remove financial barriers to early childhood education, ensuring every child in Queensland has the opportunity to thrive and to reach their full potential, regardless of their socioeconomic background,” says Georgie Dent, CEO of The Parenthood. “It is a crucial investment in the future generation, would enhance school readiness for children in Queensland and provide a solid foundation for lifelong learning.”
“The cost of living crisis has placed significant strain on families in Queensland, making it increasingly difficult for them to afford essential services, including early childhood education,” says Dent. “The free kindergarten program would allow families to prioritise their child's education without the burden of financial constraints.”
Presently, 58,000 children are enrolled in kindergarten across Queensland. 14,000 families who meet certain requirements already receive free early education places while approximately 8,000 children lack access to kindy.
“By investing in early childhood education, the government is not only investing in the future of Queensland but fostering a more inclusive, equitable and prosperous population,” says Dent. “However, the Queensland Government needs to tackle the acute staff crisis in the early childhood education and care sector.”
“Not only should kindy be free for all Queensland children, we need to make sure that the sector is better regulated and educators are offered the pay and support reflective of their impact on our kids - no matter what type of kindy program they deliver,” says Clare, from The Parenthood Queensland team.
Siobhan, another Queensland volunteer, says, “I hope the proposal includes support for adequate resourcing for kindergarten programs so that it doesn’t put more pressure on sectors that are already stressed.”
“In Queensland and all over the country, kindergarten teachers are paid less than those in schools and that’s why kindergarten teachers are leaving in droves,” says Dent. “We ask the Queensland Government to rectify this situation and commit to implementing a fair and sustainable wage structure that reflects the importance of early childhood education and the dedication of kindergarten teachers.”
The Queensland state budget will be handed down June 13.
