Australian unions the latest to join federal opposition, NSW government and Greens in call for early learning reform
17 March 2022 – Thrive by Five welcomes the Australian Unions’ call for ‘permanently free’ early learning and childcare to be at the centre of the plan to support women’s participation in the workforce and reconstruct Australia’s economy after COVID-19.
The Australian Unions are the latest to join the Federal Opposition, NSW Government, and the Greens in making moves on high-quality early learning and childcare.
Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill said, “Universal access to high quality early learning and childcare is clearly what people want – the NSW Liberal Government knows it, Federal Labor knows it, the Greens know it, and now the Unions have joined the call too.
“And it’s not just about what people want, it’s also about what Australia needs in order to recover from the pandemic and ensure that household budgets are eased, women can participate in the workforce, our economy grows, and children get the best start in life.
“We need accessible high quality 3-year-old preschool in all Australian states and territories, wage supplements for all early childhood educators, increased paid parental leave, and a National Federation Reform Taskforce on Early Childhood Development.
“The calls are growing louder every day and the Federal Government must act now to respond to them,” he said.
