The NFAW supports measures that improve the affordability, accessibility and quality of early childhood education and care (ECEC), early childhood development (ECD) and the well-being of children and families. In particular, we advocate for:
- better access to ECEC, especially for families living in disadvantaged, regional or remote areas of Australia
- children’s access to two years of preschool/kindergarten before school
- more affordable ECEC for families
- better pay and supply of ECEC educators
- more support for families (and women, in particular) to balance work and care roles
- moving to a free, universal system of ECEC and support for ECD, including access to targeted and intensive services for children with additional needs.
The NFAW welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Early Years Strategy (the Strategy) discussion paper, the proposed structure of the Strategy and Implementation Plan in Attachment B:
- Vision – to set out an overarching and aspirational statement for the Strategy
- Outcomes – to establish the short and long term intended changes when the Strategy is implemented
- Policy Priorities – the focus areas under the Strategy that are considered most likely to have a positive effect on outcomes
- Indicators – measures that show if progress is being made towards reaching the planned outcomes
- Principles – the rules and guidelines for setting the direction and making decisions under the Strategy
- Evidence – evaluated and tested information to support the direction of the Strategy
The proposed Implementation Plan will appropriately include targeted action plans, underpinned by a framework to evaluate the Strategy’s effectiveness.
