BUDGET DELIVERS HISTORIC $5 BILLION INVESTMENT TO MAKE CHILDCARE CHEAPER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE
26 March 2025 – Australian families, children and early childhood educators are set to benefit from the Federal Government’s record $5 billion investment in strengthening Australia’s childcare and early learning system.
Griffin Longley from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign said that investments in the budget would deliver cost of living relief to Australians doing it tough and have laid the foundations for establishing a universal early learning system which should be the Government’s next step.
“Guaranteeing three days of subsidised early learning, lifting wages for our hardworking early educators and expanding childcare access in areas of need – are all measures that are set to benefit tens of thousands of Australian families and children.
“These measures represent a transformative moment for early childhood education in Australia – they have brought us closer than ever before to achieving universal early learning access.
“They are also set to deliver much-needed cost of living relief to families with young children and Australia’s dedicated early learning workforce.
“The 15 per cent wage increase for early childhood educators will boost the incomes of this historically underpaid profession and better reflect their irreplaceable role in our society.
“According to government estimates, the average Australian family save about $11,400 annually in childcare costs from January 2026, following the rollout of the 3 Day Guarantee.
“We commend the Federal Government for taking the steps necessary to make early learning more accessible and affordable.
“However, we cannot stop here. We must build on this progress and establish a truly universal early learning system in Australia,” Mr Longley said.
Thrive by Five is calling on the Federal Government to take the next critical steps in universal childcare reform:
- Implement a daily fee cap of $10 – and free for low-income households – to make early learning truly affordable for all families
- Establish a National Early Childhood Education Commission to provide consistent oversight and quality standards
