A new report from the Centre for Policy Development outlines a bold policy roadmap for the Federal Government to follow to make truly universal access to quality, inclusive early childhood education and care a reality within the next ten years.
Among the top recommendations is to replace the complex Child Care Subsidy with a child-centred funding model and guarantee access to early childhood education and care for a minimum of three days per week for all families.
CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent, said this report presents a compelling pathway to improve access, affordability and quality in delivering a universal system.
“A legislated guarantee would mean that no parent or child misses out on the benefits of quality, inclusive early childhood education and care because of where they live or their parents’ income,” Ms Dent said. “The current model leaves too many families stranded and too many children developmentally vulnerable, due to the high cost and inaccessibility of early learning services – and low income and rural and remote families are worst off.
“When children miss out on high quality early learning and care, it compromises their future education and trajectory. It also means parents struggle to access paid work which increases financial pressure and creates flow-on effects for communities, workplaces, and the economy.”
In their report, leading think-tank the Centre for Policy Development also recommended replacing the childcare subsidy system with direct funding to early childhood education and care providers.
"The current subsidy system is overly complex and creates unnecessary barriers for families. By funding providers directly, we can alleviate some of the pressure on families, making it easier for more children to access quality early childhood education and care, and enabling more parents to return to work on their own terms."
Recent data found that 28% of working parents and carers have considered leaving their job in the next 12 months due to difficulties combining their job with caring responsibilities.
“Too many parents around the country with children under 5 aren’t just struggling with the cost of living crisis - it’s the cost of working crisis that is prohibitive,” said Ms Dent. “Being able to care for and provide for children shouldn’t be this complicated and expensive.”
“This report echoes reform proposals made by the ACCC, the Productivity Commission, and the Government’s own Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee and Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce in the past year alone.
“It’s time to treat early childhood education and care for what it is; a fundamental right for every child and essential infrastructure for society,” said Ms Dent.
