Budget Response by Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill
09 May 2023 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five welcomes progress towards universal early learning but is disappointed the Federal Government has missed opportunities to provide equal access for all families including First Nations Australians.
The Federal Government’s significant investment in increasing child care subsidies over the next four years will put billions back in the pockets of parents with young children, bring greater choice for parents returning to work and help give children a good start in life.
The success of the childcare subsidy increase will rest on addressing the current workforce crisis in the early childhood education sector, with greater respect for educators matched with immediate pay rises to ensure we have the best possible workforce to deliver early childhood education for Australia’s children.
Thrive by Five welcomes the $72.4 million investment in skills development and training for Australia’s early childhood education workforce in this budget.
However, Australian children, families and communities will only realise the full benefits of early learning if these budget announcements are followed up with a wider package of reforms to deliver a universally accessible and affordable, high-quality early childhood education and care system.
Thrive by Five will continue calling for the urgent abolition of the Child Care Subsidy activity test and for the restoration of funding for First Nations-led and operated childcare centres.
