In the upcoming Federal election, there is a very clear choice for voters who want to see early childhood education and care prioritised in the national political agenda.

On one hand, the Liberal Government – under Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and now Scott Morrison – have a track record of cutting funding towards the National Quality Agenda, and threatening to end the National Partnership Agreement altogether, causing anger, distrust and uncertainty within the sector.

On the other hand, the Labor Party has prioritised early education, committing to:

• permanent ongoing funding for all four-year-olds;
• extending funding to all three-year-olds from 2021;
• making early learning more accessible by reducing out-of-pocket expenses; and
• supporting services to ensure fair wages.

Bill Shorten and his Shadow Minister Amanda Rishworth get it.

They understand the vital importance of high quality early learning, and they are backing that up with a record investment in our youngest learners.

Funding two years of early childhood education before school – as standard – will fundamentally transform learning outcomes in Australia, and lead to healthier and stronger communities across our state.

In the NSW context, this additional funding will provide an unprecedented opportunity to give effect to universal access, driving greater participation and supporting teachers and educators.  

For too long, the State of NSW has had the highest fees and the lowest participation rates in the country – too many children and families are missing out.

If Labor is successful this month, their record investment in early education will be a game-changer. But here’s the rub, the preschool funding component of this investment will be administered by the NSW Liberal Government.  Now, as many of you will know, the current NSW Government has a questionable track record when it comes to giving effect to universal access principles.

To truly give effect to the principles of universal access, all three and four years olds gaining their preschooling in a community preschool or a Long Day Care service should receive the benefit of the Federal funding.  However, unlike other state governments, the NSW Liberal Government has steadfastly refused to fund three and four-year-old children in Long Day Care settings.  

Consequently, the current NSW funding model severely disadvantages the overwhelming majority of three and four-year-olds who attend Long Day Care services and not community preschools. 

If we truly want to extend the benefits of early childhood education to more children throughout NSW, this must change. 

That is why I have written to the NSW Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, requesting that she bring together all stakeholders to build a long-term early childhood education sector roadmap for NSW. Imagine what could be achieved if everyone felt they were heading in the same direction, and future incremental changes were complementary rather than contradictory.

I truly hope to see a Shorten Labor Government elected on May 18 because I know what Labor’s early childhood education policies and investments will mean for children and families in our state.

Fairer funding, lower fees, increased participation, higher wages, and more certainty – that’s what Bill Shorten and Amanda Rishworth are offering the people of NSW when it comes to early childhood education and care.

The missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle lies with the NSW Minister. That’s why I’ll be fighting to ensure any additional funding coming into the State budget from a Federal Labor Government is allocated fairly and for the benefit of all children, families, teachers, educators and service providers – regardless of service type.

In my experience, early childhood education teachers, educators, owners and operators are all committed to high quality early learning.  You want the best outcomes and the brightest futures for the children in your care. I look forward to working with you all to secure a State funding model which supports all children and their families.    

Kate Washington MP
NSW Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education

As published in the 2019 Winter Edition of The Nurture Nook.