Thrive By Five Welcomes NSW Government’s landmark $5 billion Early Learning package becoming law
20 October 2022: Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative has today welcomed the official start of the NSW Government’s $5 billion early learning reform package aimed at making early childhood education more accessible in the state.
Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill said, “NSW should be congratulated for this major step towards the development of a national universal, high quality and affordable early learning system for Australia.
“NSW and Victoria have now both committed to funding 30 hours of free early education for all four-year-olds.
“South Australia has this week announced former Prime Minister Julia Gillard will head up a Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education tasked with investigating how to deliver early learning access to every three-year-old in the state from 2026.
“Progress toward better outcomes for Australian children has begun. It hasn’t come a minute too soon and, as always, there remains much to be done.
“However, many other changes are required to develop a high-quality, universally accessible and affordable early learning system for all. We know 57 per cent of regional families can’t easily access early learning and childcare, meaning children miss out on vital development opportunities and parents face barriers to employment,” he said.
