Thrive by Five urges South Australian and Federal Government to invest in three-year-old preschool
29 November 2021 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative is urging the South Australian Government and the Federal Government to invest in three-year-old preschool.
Jay Weatherill, the former South Australian Premier, was back in Adelaide today to call for the investment, which he labelled a “gamechanger”. Now the CEO of Thrive by Five, Mr Weatherill said every child in South Australia should start school ready to learn and with the opportunity to fulfil their potential.
“That comes from two years in high quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Currently this is not the case in my home state of South Australia, where access to early learning or preschool for three-year-olds is patchy and mostly dependent on parents’ workforce participation.
“Extending funding for four-year-old preschool to three-year-olds has been described as the single most impactful reform governments could undertake in education.* It has the potential to be the ultimate gamechanger in early education.
“Today, I urge the South Australian Government to prioritise funding for three-year-old preschool, and I encourage the Federal Government to work with every state and territory government to make two years of early learning a national priority.
“The sad reality is that children who start school behind, rarely catch up. But early learning can help give children the best start in life. It is shown to boost their future health, wellbeing, working and social potential.
“This is why at least two years of high quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning, delivered by an appropriately recognised workforce is so important.”
Thrive by Five has previously welcomed SA Labor’s commitment to funding early learning for three-year-olds, and early learning reforms in other States including the NSW Liberal Government’s recent commitment to invest more in childcare so more women can work.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Press conference discussing the importance of three-year-old preschool
When: 10am, 29 November 2021
Where: Playgroup SA Play Together on the Green, Old Gum Tree Reserve, Glenelg
Who: Craig Bradbrook – CEO, Playgroup SA
Correna Haythorpe – Federal President, Australian Education Union
Jay Weatherill – CEO, Thrive by Five
* Brennan, D & Pascoe S, (2017) Lifting our Game: report of the review to achieve educational excellence in Australian schools through early childhood interventions.
