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23 October 2007
Labor Plan has potential to lift quality of child care in Australia
Early Childhood Australia national president, Margaret Young, says: 'All is not right with the current child care system—a fact recognised by Labor's Plan for High Quality Child Care.'
Labor's proposed investment in a qualified and skilled child care workforce is a major step forward in the quest for a quality child care system.
The evidence is clear that early childhood qualifications are one of the key predictors of a quality child care service. Early Childhood Australia welcomes the assistance with TAFE fees and HECS for people who commit to working in rural Australia; increasing the number of early childhood education places in universities; and recognising the value of on-the-job experience in any qualifications framework.
Labor's commitment to national evidence-based standards is also fundamental to building a quality system.
Ms Young has stressed the need for child care standards to reflect research and best practice:
'The focus on service-improvement in the quality improvement system will provide an incentive for services to provide higher-quality programs. It is crucial that the standards in the proposed higher categories reflect the Labor commitment to "evidence-based research and international best practice on what is best for our children" (Labor's Plan for High Quality Child Care).
'The inclusion of these standards will be an incentive for services to invest in qualified early childhood staff, higher staff–child ratios and smaller group-sizes. Without these, child care cannot be high quality—it can only be satisfactory.'
Reinstating health and safety standards is also welcomed. Currently, State and Territory health and safety regulations vary greatly, and so do not provide nationwide guarantees for children in child care.
The commitment to 15 hours preschool for all four-year-olds, whether in long day or preschool services, is an important investment which promises ongoing gains for children.
The clear recognition by Labor that care and learning in early childhood go hand in hand is to be applauded.
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