The Thrive by Five campaign has today welcomed the appointment of Alan Tudge as the Federal Minister for Education as a prime opportunity for real reform of the early learning and care sector in Australia.
Thrive by Five CEO and former SA Premier Jay Weatherill urged Minister Tudge to be bold and help put early learning at the top of the political agenda in 2021.
“New Education Minister Tudge should listen to the growing public support to reform early learning and ensure Australian children get the best possible start in life,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Early learning is a smart investment as every $1 of taxpayer funding returns about $2.16 in increased workplace participation benefits, a huge boost for national productivity.
“If the government lands this essential reform, it will have long-term social and economic benefits including boosting the economy, increasing women’s workplace participation and setting children up for lifelong learning and well-being
“Around 90 per cent of a person’s lifelong brain development occurs in the first five years. It is not acceptable that more than 20 per cent of Australian children start primary school developmentally vulnerable.
“There has been significant progress from states and territories over recent months, including NSW, Victoria and the ACT, supporting greater access to affordable, high quality early learning and care.
“The new Minister can seize this chance and help create a lasting legacy of a better economy, stronger society and greater options for generations of children to come,” he said.
