14 May 2008

Young children are budget winners

Early Childhood Australia, the national early childhood advocacy organisation, applauds the firm budget commitments to the government's early childhood education agenda.

Margaret Young, ECA national president, said:

'This budget is the first step to implementing the election promises of 15 hours per week universal preschool access and an increase in the child care cash rebate.'

Ms Young noted that a qualified early childhood workforce is crucial to implementing the preschool promise:

'Building a specialist early-childhood-degree–qualified workforce is essential to delivering the high-quality learning outcomes for children that are the goals of the promised 15-hours preschool experience – whether delivered in preschools or long day care centres.

'Achieving this will take a commitment over time, which the government recognises.'

Ms Young also welcomed the child care rebate of 50 per cent of out-of-pocket expenses:

'The cost of child care is a significant issue for parents and the child care rebate will reduce the financial burden on them. However, ECA would support a move towards the means-testing of this rebate, in the same way that we support the means-testing of the baby bonus.'

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