Only three weeks into January and the year is already off to a flying start. We are so excited about the amazing conferences and retreats being organised by our state organisations - you won't want to miss out! You can read about the upcoming conferences and other events in your area here. Meanwhile, we are working hard to prepare our submission to the Jobs for Families Childcare Assistance Package. Thank you to all those members who have provided feedback on how these changes will affect families, children and your services. Here's what we are fighting for:
- Ensure that all children have access to quality early learning, regardless of their parents meeting the complex new activity test
- Currently all children can access a minimum of 24 hours a week of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC). This will reduce to just 12 hours under the proposed changes. We do not believe that 12 hours is enough and we are fighting to increase that amount.
- We welcome the Government's $3.2 billion investment into ECEC, but are concerned that some families will be worse off. ACA is working hard to understand how many families will be affected and again call on the Government to ensure that no child falls through the cracks.
Please reach out to our national Executive Officer, Anna Minson via