THRIVE BY FIVE WELCOMES ACT’S BILL TO LEGISLATE THREE-YEAR-OLD PRESCHOOL AND A NEW EARLY EDUCATION WORKFORCE STRATEGY
30 October 2023 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign has welcomed the introduction of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government’s Bill to legislate the roll-out of universal three-year-old preschool across the territory and implement their new early educator workforce strategy.
The Education (Early Childhood) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 aims to improve early learning access for families and children across the ACT by introducing two years of universally accessible free early education via preschool and strengthen the early learning workforce.
The ACT Government wants to become the first Australian jurisdiction to enshrine in law two years of quality early childhood education prior to formal schooling.
Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill said the Bill was a transformative piece of legislation that will have a long-lasting positive impact on children, families and educators in the ACT.
“The introduction of universal three-year-old preschool will help ensure that children across the ACT have access to two full years of high-quality early learning before they start school. This will ensure that they start school ready,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Families across the ACT will also benefit greatly from reduced early learning costs and greater supports that enable parents to re-enter the workforce.
“The Bill’s passage will also see the implementation of the ACT’s new early educator workforce strategy, which will help ensure that educators are properly recognised and supported.
“Educators are the cornerstone of our early learning system and ensuring that the early learning workforce is well supported through effective recognition and training is vital to the success of any early learning reforms.
“We congratulate the ACT Government for undertaking the bold reforms necessary to strengthen and improve their early learning system and encourage other state and territory governments to follow their lead.”
