CHILDREN’S ADVOCATES JOIN TOGETHER TO LAUNCH NEW EARLY YEARS ACTION PLAN FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
16 April 2023 – With the support of Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative, a new alliance of 13 organisations has launched a three-point plan to make clear the actions South Australia must take to give every child the best possible start in life.
“A high quality, affordable and universally accessible early learning system provides children with lifelong benefits. But, there are significant barriers like the Activity Test, affordability and childcare deserts that prevent children from accessing early learning and South Australian children are at risk of being left behind unless action is taken now.
“This is compounded by the early years workforce crisis which has resulted in one in five South Australian long day care services operating under a waiver,” said Penny Markham, National Lead, Social Inclusion, Goodstart Early Learning.
“The Action Plan we are launching today calls for the removal of these barriers to create a truly universal early learning system for South Australian children. And to ensure our children have the best start in life, it also calls for better wages and conditions for the early years workforce, and reform of South Australia’s teacher registrations systems to attract and retain the best and brightest,” said Kate Ryan, President, Preschool Directors Association of South Australia.
The three-point Action Plan calls for:
-
The South Australian Premier to lead early years reform through the National Cabinet process.
-
A new workforce strategy to attract and retain educators, teachers and experts in South Australia.
-
A formal commitment to a truly universal system which recognises that every child deserves access to quality, inclusive and appropriate early years services.
“We have come together because we are deeply driven to see every South Australian child have the opportunity to benefit from a high quality, universally accessible early learning experience delivered by a high quality, valued and recognised workforce.
“In addition to the very real challenges for the sector and young children and their families in this state, the SA Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care is a prime opportunity for getting early learning reform right and making this one of the best states for children and parents.
“Our three-point plan, if implemented, will help make this vision a reality,” said Kerra-Lee Wescombe, CEO Connect.Ed , Trauma-informed Education and Care.
A copy of the Action Plan is attached. It is endorsed by: the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health, the Australian Education Union SA Branch, Children and Young People with Disability Australia, Connect.Ed, Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils Australia, Goodstart Early Learning, Playgroup SA, the Preschool Directors Association of South Australia, the South Australian Primary Principals Association, United Workers Union, the University of Adelaide, Robinson Research Institute, the University of South Australia and Welcoming Australia.
