Australian children eligible for three days of subsidised early education and child care from January 5
Australian children will be entitled to three days of supported early education and childcare each week in a New Year’s blessing for parents.
The Albanian government’s “3 Day Guarantee”, which comes into effect on Monday, aims to ensure every Australian child is entitled to three times a week supported early learning, regardless of their parents’ profession.
The reforms replace the former Coalition government’s Activity Test, which required parents to work or study to receive more than minimal subsidized care.
The government claims the reforms will give an additional 100,000 families access to supported learning.
“This is a guarantee of access to supported early education and care three days a week for the children who need it most,” Education Minister Jason Clare said.
“No one bats an eye when you say every child has the right to go to school and the government has a responsibility to help finance it.
“The same should be true for early education today, and that’s what this is about.”
Families will be entitled to 100 hours of supported childcare per fortnight for each child if they are caring for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander child, have more than 48 hours of recognized attendance every fortnight, or qualify for an exemption such as living with a medical condition or disability.
Early Childhood Education Minister Jess Walsh said too many children were being excluded from early education and care because of “their parents’ work or learning activities”.
“Every child deserves access to quality early learning, regardless of their zip code or their parents’ job,” she said.
The federal government has committed to investing approximately $430 million over four years to deliver the 3-Day Guarantee.
Another $1 billion has been promised to the Early Education Building Fund to create or expand early learning services in areas of need, including outer suburban and regional areas.
Finance Minister Jim Chalmers said the reforms would give working families “more choice” and deliver on his election pledge.
“This is all possible because of the progress we’ve made to get the Budget in better shape, find savings, reduce wasteful spending and pay down Liberal debt so we can invest in the things that matter most.” he said.
Childcare and early education in Australia has been under the spotlight following a series of high-profile alleged abuse scandals in recent months.
The Albanian government has promised a number of reforms, including the creation of the National Register of Educators.
The NSW government, which has also vowed to go it alone on safety reforms, last year announced plans to invest in new public nurseries in “childcare deserts”, which are often remote and regional areas of the state.
