Jess Liddy, Yorke Peninsula Country Times

Australia needs a high-quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning childcare system, according to Thrive by Five.

The organisation is calling on federal and state governments to reform early learning and child care to benefit more families and early education staff.

The initiative has been designed to bring together researchers, families, educators, and concerned citizens in a movement for systems to change in early childhood.

Kadina Child Care Centre director Caren Hammerstein said she agreed and the system needed to change.

“The early years are extremely important for learning, development and wellbeing,” she said.

“We continue to strive for all centres to be seen as a place for early childhood education and care, instead of being seen as a childminding service, where educators are acknowledged, and the pay rate is equivalent to the roles and responsibilities.” Ms Hammerstein said early learning should be accessible and affordable for all families.

“Whether that be with attachment to the public education system or supported and incorporated into long day care centres to support the education system,” she said.

“The federal budget has allocated funds for making early learning more affordable and delivering their reforms to the Child Care Subsidy.” The Thrive by Five campaign states Australia’s early learning centres are of inconsistent quality.

“Reform of early learning and child care is the key economic reform which will drive workforce participation, productivity, Gross Domestic Product and government revenue,” a Thrive by Five spokesperson said.

“However, the importance of this development and learning process has been ignored by decision-makers who continue to treat our early learning and childcare system as a childminding service for parents returning to work.

“It’s time the value of playbased learning is recognised by making Australia’s early learning system high quality, universally accessible and attached to our public education system so every child can benefit.

“Let’s make children, women, families and our economy the winners by delivering a new early learning system for Australia.

“It’s clear the system is not providing for all children and families.” To support the campaign, go to https://thrivebyfive.org.au/actions/petition/.

This article appeared in the Yorke Peninsula Country Times, 6 2023.