In addition to the inquiry already underway by the Productivity Commission, the Australian Senate will also be inquiring into the early childhood education and care sector. As a major stakeholder in this sector, the ASU will be making a submission to advocate for our members.
"The ASU is pleased to see the Australian Senate inquire into a range of issues around child care," said ASU Assistant National Secretary Greg McLean.
"We are looking forward to this inquiry making an important contribution to the debate about the provision of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services in Australia," he said.
The Inquiry is in addition to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Childcare and Early Childhood Learning (click on the link for more details), but the ASU is hoping the Senate Inquiry will include areas not being considered by the Productivity Commission, and will involve political and broad community views based on needs and future expectations of working families and children.
The ASU will be lodging a submission to this important Senate Inquiry, as well as the Productivity Commission Inquiry. We urge our members in the early childhood education and care sector to contact their ASU Branch with any views they would like considered.
The Senate's terms of reference for their inquiry are:
The delivery of quality and affordable early childhood education and care services, including:
a. outcomes for children in early childhood education and care services, including:
i. workforce factors such as stability, qualifications and wage rates,
ii. quality regulation (including staff-to-child ratios),
iii. participation and access to services, and
iv. environments for learning;
b. a progress report into the implementation of the National Quality Framework (NQF), including targets met and those working toward;
c. parents' experiences of the outcomes of the NQF;
d. impacts of the announced government amendments to the NQF, and the outcomes for children and early childhood education and care services; and
e. any other related matters.
Click here for Senate Inquiry home page.