Early Childhood Educators’ Day marks the start of a new era in Early Childhood Education

The following text is lifted from an ACA Media Release - Wednesday 6th September 2023:

Australia’s early learning sector will celebrate a growing workforce dedicated to quality education and care on Early Childhood Educators’ Day this Wednesday 6th September.

This year, the sector welcomed more pledges of support from governments than ever before, with significant investments committed from the Federal Government and most State Governments.

Early Childhood Educators’ Day recognises and celebrates the work of Australia’s educators in early learning services (including long day care, family day care, in-home care and occasional care), for their contribution to the well-being and healthy development of the young children in their care.

In July, the Federal Government introduced a $4.6 billion increase to the Childcare Subsidy and committed $72 million to support professional development in the sector.

Most State Governments across Australia have also pledged support for the sector through making preschool or kindergarten free, or through plans to increase hours of free kinder over the coming years.

Individually, states and territories have pledged:

• In Victoria: free kinder is now available for 3- and 4-year-old children, with 4-year-old kindergarten expanding to 30 hours a week over the next decade and 3-year-old kinder to be free for all children across the state by 2029.
  
  
• In NSW: funding is committed to provide affordable access to preschool and a high-quality universal pre-kindergarten year for all children in the year before school by 2030.
  
  
• In Queensland: Children will be eligible for 15 hours a week or 600 hours of free kindy from 2024.
  
  
• In South Australia, a final report from a Royal Commission into expanding 3-year-old preschool has been handed down.
  
  
• In Tasmania, universal early learning for 3-year-olds is in development.
  
  
• In the ACT: 3-year-olds are eligible for one free day of preschool a week.
  
  
• In the NT, a review into preschool is underway.
  
  
• In WA, a grant fund exists for local governments to employ ECEC workers, plus investment in free and low-fee training in early childhood education and care.

The Australian Childcare Alliance is contributing to the ACCC’s work on the sector, and the Productivity Commission’s review for the Federal Government.

Paul Mondo, President of the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA), said the sector was aligned in its goals for better pay for early childhood education and care workers and accessible, high quality early childhood education for all.

“Our early learning service providers rely on their dedicated educators to provide the best start in life for children. Providers and families at each service are encouraged to say thank you to early childhood educators on or during the week of Early Childhood Educators’ Day, whether through a formal celebration or simple gestures like a card or small hand-made gift,” he said.

There are more than 3,200 early learning services signed up to celebrate their educators today, which equates to around a third of early childhood education and care services across the country.

“We love seeing early learning services celebrating a national community event that shows their appreciation for their workforce,” Mr Mondo said.

“The aim of the day is to offer the simple gesture of saying thank you to early childhood educators and acknowledging our appreciation for their commitment and enthusiasm.”

The "Australia says thank you" 2023 video can be viewed here. 

Individual messages of support for Early Childhood Educators’ Day can be accessed here.  

ENDS

ACA National

ACA President - Paul Mondo 0411 587 170

ACA Vice President - Nesha Hutchinson 0412 085 068