Universal Access to Early Childhood Education
What is universal access to early childhood education commitment?
Universal access to early childhood education is an Australian Government
commitment to provide access to a quality, early childhood education program
for all children by 2013, delivered by a degree qualified early childhood teacher,
for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, in the year before full-time schooling
(often referred to as pre-school or kindergarten).
For the first time, the Australian Government is making a major
investment in early childhood education for all Australian children ($970
million in Commonwealth funding, over five years to 2012-13) and the states
and territories have committed to achieving universal access to early
childhood education for all children in the year before school by 2013.
State and Territory governments are responsible for delivery of preschool
education. In each state and territory, different arrangements exist for the
regulation, funding and delivery of early childhood education and child care
services differ. Therefore, what your state or territory government does to
increase the participation of all children in pre-school may differ to
approaches taken elsewhere.
What does this mean for my child?
Universal access will ensure that, by 2013, your child will, in the year
before full-time schooling, have access to a play-based learning and
development program:
- for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks of the year before they start school
- taught by a degree qualified early childhood teacher
- delivered in a range of settings, including child care, to meet the
needs of working parents.
Research shows that participating in a quality, early childhood education
program has ongoing benefits for children throughout their schooling and
beyond, especially those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The universal
access initiative aims to improve participation in quality, early childhood
education for all Australian children.
Do I have to wait until 2013 to benefit from the Universal Access
initiative?
No. The target date for ensuring all children have access to quality
early childhood education is 2013 but most families will benefit much
earlier from the significant investment the Australian Government is making
now towards this goal.
Some families are already benefiting as state and territory governments
are using the new funding to trial and progressively implement changes to
pre-school. Benefits will differ depending on where you live, but can
include:
- more pre-school places accessible from many services, including
child care, to meet the needs of working families
- increased pre-school hours up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40
weeks per year
- increased quality requirements and information to parents about the
quality of services.
Does my child have to take part?
No. It remains your choice about whether to send your child to
pre-school. Universal access means that pre-school must be available for all
children in the year before school. The Australian Government believes that
providing access to a pre-school program will help your child prepare for
school, for learning and for life.
Does Universal Access mean that early childhood education is free?
No. The Australian and state and territory governments have committed to
work together to ensure cost is not a barrier to accessing quality early
childhood education. It will be up to states and territories and providers
to determine what cost, if any, will be passed on to parents for early
childhood education. Many states and territories already provide free or
very low cost early childhood education.
How is Universal Access being put into action?
Each state and territory has committed to achieving universal access to
early childhood education for all children in the year before school by
2013.
Under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education with
states and territories, the Australian Government will invest a total of
$970 million in early childhood education over five years to 2012-13.
The national partnership details the state-by-state distribution of $955
million for achieving access to quality, early childhood education in the
year before schooling. It allocates a further $15 million over five years to
develop better data and performance information.
The table below shows the distribution of funding
| New South Wales |
10.2 |
21.3 |
26.9 |
82.3 |
137.9 |
278.6 |
| Victoria |
7.4 |
15.3 |
19.3 |
59.1 |
109.5 |
210.6 |
| Queensland |
11.2 |
23.4 |
29.5 |
90.3 |
97.6 |
252.0 |
| Western Australia |
3.7 |
7.7 |
9.7 |
29.7 |
47.6 |
98.4 |
| South Australia |
2.5 |
5.2 |
6.6 |
20.2 |
30.9 |
65.4 |
| Tasmania |
0.7 |
1.5 |
1.9 |
5.9 |
10.4 |
20.4 |
| Australian Capital Territory |
0.4 |
0.9 |
1.2 |
3.6 |
7.1 |
13.2 |
| Northern Territory |
0.7 |
1.5 |
1.9 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
15.9 |
| Total |
37.0 |
77.0 |
97.0 |
297.0 |
447.0 |
955.0 |
Fact sheets on the implementation of universal access in each state and
territory can be found here:
You can find more information about the universal access initiative on
the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.