THRIVE BY FIVE WELCOMES VICTORIA’S NEW EARLY YEARS STRATEGY
17 November 2023 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign has welcomed the Victorian Government’s new early childhood education and care strategy, ‘Transforming early childhood education together: What we heard, what we’re doing [1] ’.
Developed in consultation with educators, parents, unions and service providers, the strategy focuses on improving early learning access for Victorian families through strengthening and supporting the early learning workforce and scaling up the state’s early learning infrastructure.
Feedback included that “two years of quality early childhood education will give children more time to play and learn, so they can better develop the skills they need to thrive, especially those needing additional support”.
Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill said the strategy would help ensure Victoria continued to build on the progress it had made at improving early learning access for families across the state.
“This strategy provides a pathway for the state of Victoria to take further strides at making early learning more accessible and affordable for families across the state and do so while ensuring the early learning workforce is adequately supported.
“We’re pleased that the Victorian Government engaged in a thorough consultation process with key groups including educators and parents in the development of this strategy.
“Victoria has been leading the national conversation on early learning reforms through meaningful reforms, and this is another step in the right direction.
“The strategy rightfully prioritises support for the state’s early learning workforce, as without a strong and resilient workforce, no attempts at making early learning more accessible and affordable will be fruitful.
“Ensuring that access is improved through making more early learning spaces available, especially in rural and remote parts of the state is also vital.
“We congratulate the Victorian Government on the release of this strategy and look forward to working with them as it is implemented,” he said.
[1] Victorian Government: New Early Childhood Education Strategy
