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Highlights
- ACA has presented three key priorities related to early childhood education in Australia
- The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the critical role played by the early learning sector to help in economic recovery
- The early learning sector is encountering a staff crisis
With the 2022 Federal Elections drawing closer, the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) has announced three key election priorities for all the parties. The ACA has urged the political candidates to address the need for high quality, well resourced, and affordable early learning (childcare) services in the country.
The Australian Childcare Alliance is the national peak body working for the future of Australia’s children. It is a not-for-profit organisation which represents, advocates, informs and promotes quality early learning services throughout Australia.
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According to the President of ACA, Mr Paul Mondo, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical role played by the early learning sector to help in economic recovery, in the meantime, allowing parents to work and healthcare employees to stay in the workforce.
“Developmentally, the benefits to our children are also clear – children who enjoy quality early learning are likely to be well socialised, confident, inquisitive about the world, accepting of diversity, resilient to manage challenges and also to be life-long learners.”
However, the early learning sector has been facing a workforce crisis, the ACA noted. It is becoming difficult for service providers to meet the demand, as outlined by the regulatory conditions for the child-educator ratios.
“We need to ensure that all families – including those with only one child in early learning and those with special needs – have ongoing, equitable, and affordable access to world-class early learning (childcare). No child should be allowed to fall through the cracks,” Mr Paul Mondo further added.
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Early learning sector in Australia
Attending a preschool is not a compulsion in Australia. However, due to its benefits, the Australian Government has committed to increasing participation in high-quality education and care. Currently, Australia does not have any national approach to this, but several states and territories are launching subsidised preschool programs for all three-year-old kids.
Working for more than 30 years, the ACA has a wealth of early childhood education, training, and management knowledge. It collaborates with governments, agencies, and stakeholders to ensure a viable, affordable, and sustainable industry for families in the future.
ACA understands the importance of a quality early learning programme in the lives of families and the importance of a strong long-day care business in giving children the best possible start in life and learning.
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