Thrive by Five Welcome’s NSW Coalition’s Election Commitment to Build 500 New Preschools and Give Early Access to Free Preschool
09 March 2023 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative has welcomed the NSW Coalition’s election commitment to build 500 new preschools across the state and provide early access to one-year free preschool across the state if re-elected later this month.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell highlighted that the proposed new preschools would help facilitate the rollout of the free, universal kindergarten program for four and five-year-olds by 2030.
Separately, NSW Labor has committed to building 100 public preschools co-located with government primary schools in its first term of government if elected later this month.
Thrive by Five’s Director Jay Weatherill said, “the Coalition’s announcement is a welcome first step and will greatly improve early learning access for women, families and children across NSW.
“Early learning has been elevated as a focus in the election, reflecting its critical impact on the wellbeing of children, women and families and impact on the cost of living.
“Investing in vital infrastructure and building more preschools will allow for a swift, and effective delivery of the free universal kindergarten program for three- and four-year-olds.
“There remains an opportunity for NSW Labor to lift its ambition on early learning and match or exceed this commitment made by the Coalition and invest in a better start in life for our youngest children,” he said.