GOVT COMMITMENT ON CHILDCARE ‘ACTIVITY TEST’ WILL GIVE ACCESS TO MORE THAN 126,000 EXTRA CHILDREN: ADVOCATES
Tuesday 10 December – The Federal Government’s promise to cut the “Activity Test” will see 126,000 more children able to access early learning, in a huge step towards a universal early education and care system for Australian families.
Jay Weatherill from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign congratulated the Government, saying the “Activity Test” – which determines eligibility for childcare based on how many hours their parents work – had always been punitive and unfair.
“If a child turned up to their first day of primary school and was told, ‘sorry, you can’t get an education here because your parents don’t work full time’, we would be outraged. Why should this be the case for early learning?” Mr Weatherill said.
“Ninety per cent of brain growth happens in the first five years of life and it is a crucial time for a child’s learning and development, so early childhood education is so much more than babysitting.
“It is fantastic that the government has recognised this and committed to making three days per week of early learning accessible to every child, no matter their parents’ work or study situation.
“This is a win for equity, as it will enable the children who are most likely to benefit from early learning to get access.”
The Activity Test disproportionately prevents children from low-income families and First Nations children from accessing early learning. A 2023 report from Impact Economics and Policy, commissioned by Thrive by Five, found more than 126,000 children would gain access to early learning if the “Activity Test” was abolished [1].
This could lead to almost 40,000 parents being able to return to work or increase their hours, if they want to.
“The Activity Test has particularly punished single mothers, casual workers and those looking for work. They get trapped in a cycle where you can’t get childcare if you don’t have a job lined up, but you can’t get a job if you don’t have childcare lined up,” Mr Weatherill said.
He said there was more work to do to ensure the system delivers cost-relief to families and fixes “childcare deserts” – areas where there are not enough childcare places to meet the need.
“This is a momentous step and we are looking forward to hearing more from the Government. We know politicians from all sides care about this issue so we hope to see any commitments matched by the Opposition. The wellbeing of children and families should be beyond politics.”
[1] Child Care Subsidy Activity Test: Incentive or Barrier to Labour Force Participation
