News

Childcare costs are hurting all of society

Childcare costs are hurting all of society

by Jane Hunt

When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis, we typically talk milk, bread and petrol. But what’s causing much more pain in countless Australian households right now is childcare.

November 28, 2023
The Front Project’s Founding CEO Stepping Down

The Front Project’s Founding CEO Stepping Down

After seven highly productive years, the Front Project’s founding CEO Jane Hunt is stepping down from her role as CEO to embark on a new challenge.

November 22, 2023
Federal Budget 2023-24 Fact Sheet

Federal Budget 2023-24 Fact Sheet

Read the Front Project fact sheet on the Federal Budget 2023-24. The fact sheet breaks down key budget annoncements for the early years system in Australia. 

May 14, 2023
The Front Project New South Wales Election Response

The Front Project New South Wales Election Response

Leading early childhood education and care organisation, The Front Project, has congratulated the the New South Wales Labor Leader Chris Minns on his election victory and encouraged his new government to continue with the ECEC reform agenda in NSW.

March 25, 2023
Paid Parental Leave Bill Fact Sheet

Paid Parental Leave Bill Fact Sheet

Read the Front Project fact sheet on the changes to Paid Parental Leave (PPL), the new legislation is designed to give more families access to the payment, gives parents increased flexibility in how they take leave and encourages parents to share care to promote gender equality.

March 9, 2023
Looking towards 2023 as we farewell 2022

Looking towards 2023 as we farewell 2022

2022 was a huge year for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) system, not only for the Front Project, but for the amazing teachers, educators and sector professionals who continue to provide Australian children with the opportunity to engage with quality early learning during the earliest stages of their development. 

December 19, 2022
New Child Care Subsidy CCS Fact Sheet

New Child Care Subsidy CCS Fact Sheet

Read the Front Project fact sheet on the changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), the new legislation is designed to make early childhood educationand care (ECEC) more affordable for 96 per cent of families currently using child care, with no families being worse off.

November 7, 2022
The Front Project Victorian Election Response

The Front Project Victorian Election Response

Leading early childhood education and care organisation, The Front Project, has congratulated the Andrews Government on its re-election and noted that the government can now continue its landmark early childhood reforms. 

November 7, 2022
Celebrating early educators, a cornerstone of children’s development

Celebrating early educators, a cornerstone of children’s development

The roots of Australia's ECEC system can be traced back to preschools established to educate children experiencing poverty during the depression of the 1890s.

September 8, 2022
Apiary Convening July 2022 – A roadmap for collective action

Apiary Convening July 2022 – A roadmap for collective action

‘The Apiary is a collective of leaders invested in creating a better future for children and families. We want to hear and amplify voices from the system on what the future of early learning in Australia should look and feel like.’

August 18, 2022
Recent Funding Announcements in ECEC

Recent Funding Announcements in ECEC

When the Front Project started 5 years ago, the advocacy intent was to influence the community, business and Government to support and implement 2 years of early learning in the years prior to school. We felt this was one way of tackling the level of developmental vulnerability and disadvantage children experience in Australia.

 

June 27, 2022
Apiary Convening – A promise to children

Apiary Convening – A promise to children

‘The Apiary’s promise is to walk with you as we lead, innovate, and shape the ECEC system, with your needs and future at its centre.’

March 15, 2022
Looking towards 2022 as we farewell 2021

Looking towards 2022 as we farewell 2021

For many, 2021 has been a year of unmet expectations. We planned as if lockdowns and border closures were behind us and we would recommence our close connections with all who play a role in our work. Hindsight reveals that this was indeed optimistic thinking. 

December 21, 2021
A message from Jane Hunt – new Online Community now open

A message from Jane Hunt – new Online Community now open

I am pleased to announce that the Front Project has launched a new Online Community for anyone working with children and their families in early learning across.

October 20, 2021
A message from Jane Hunt - Work and play report

A message from Jane Hunt - Work and play report

I am pleased to share with you our latest research report, Work and play: Understanding how Australian families experience early childhood education and care.

June 18, 2021
A message from Jane Hunt - How will the new funding for ECEC impact every Australian?

A message from Jane Hunt - How will the new funding for ECEC impact every Australian?

The Australian Government’s announcement of new funding for early childhood education and care (ECEC) is an important win for all Australians. 

May 5, 2021
A message from Jane Hunt, Feb 2021

A message from Jane Hunt, Feb 2021

Our early learning system is poised to improve the lives of every Australian during this year of recovery.

February 9, 2021
We are in a time when more Australians understand and appreciate the value of quality early learning than ever before.

We are in a time when more Australians understand and appreciate the value of quality early learning than ever before.

Last week The Front Project team reflected on the year that we are about to leave behind and – this may be surprising to some – we agreed that despite the challenges, 2020 delivered a lot to celebrate for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Australia.

December 22, 2020
Families, Disadvantage & Early Childhood Education and Care in COVID-19

Families, Disadvantage & Early Childhood Education and Care in COVID-19

The gaps in our society have been widened by COVID-19 and early childhood education can help bridge them.

November 30, 2020
New Analysis: Optimising the Child Care Subsidy is good for children, families and the economy.

New Analysis: Optimising the Child Care Subsidy is good for children, families and the economy.

I am pleased to share our latest resource aimed at improving wellbeing for children and their families by optimising the child care subsidy (CCS).

September 9, 2020
New paper release - experiences of teachers and educators at the start of the pandemic

New paper release - experiences of teachers and educators at the start of the pandemic

We have now published findings from our survey of teachers and educators during COVID-19 in our new paper 'Early Learning and COVID-19 - Experiences of Teachers and Educators at the Start of the Pandemic'.

August 31, 2020
New survey on how families experience ECEC

New survey on how families experience ECEC

This week we released findings from a survey of over 1000 parents and carers of young children who shared their experiences with early childhood education and care (ECEC) during COVID-19.

June 19, 2020
What will Australia’s early childhood education system  look like after COVID-19?

What will Australia’s early childhood education system look like after COVID-19?

The critical role of early childhood education in supporting young children‘s learning and development and supporting families to work has never been more evident than during the response to COVID-19.

April 28, 2020
New analysis and research for ECEC during COVID-19

New analysis and research for ECEC during COVID-19

Over the past week we have released two major pieces of work as part of our renewed focus to support the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector through COVID-19: 

April 28, 2020
A message From Jane Hunt, April 2020

A message From Jane Hunt, April 2020

A message on important lessons about early childhood education from our CEO, Jane Hunt.

April 9, 2020

Opinion

Kinder Reform must last longer than ‘free’ uni

Kinder Reform must last longer than ‘free’ uni

For a generation of Australians, Gough Whitlam’s decision to abolish tuition fees for students at universities and technical colleges was life changing. It unleased the potential of a group of Australians who, for too long, had been shut out of tertiary opportunities. 

January 30, 2023
Early care for life must be a top priority

Early care for life must be a top priority

Australian families weighing up household spending might consider the cost of early childhood education and care (ECEC) is not worth it.

October 6, 2022
Every parent and community want their children to have the best start in life.

Every parent and community want their children to have the best start in life.

But data collected by the Australian government tells us that around 60,000 children are assessed as developmentally vulnerable when they start school every year. 

April 6, 2022
Families have their say on early childhood education and care

Families have their say on early childhood education and care

Australian families are at the centre of our early childhood education and care (ECEC) system.

June 17, 2021
Why it’s easy to get behind extra investment in early childhood education

Why it’s easy to get behind extra investment in early childhood education

Who had money on early childhood education and care (ECEC) creating the biggest pre-Budget buzz this year?

May 3, 2021
Sophisticated, robust and vital’ is the most accurate way to describe early learning

Sophisticated, robust and vital’ is the most accurate way to describe early learning

Despite latest claims by some loud voices, our early childhood education and care (ECEC) system is remarkably robust, with a story of constant improvement and unlimited potential to deliver for families and our broader economy.

February 18, 2021
Optimising the Child Care Subsidy is good families, business and the economy.

Optimising the Child Care Subsidy is good families, business and the economy.

In April this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Relief Package to help families through what many hoped at that time would be a short-lived period of financial instability.

September 11, 2020
Early learning is not just good for children, it is good for our country

Early learning is not just good for children, it is good for our country

This year we have stayed home and learned what matters most to us and what we cannot live without. It has become clear that one of these things is our early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.

August 27, 2020
We’re “not natural teachers” – COVID-19 shows parents high value of early childhood education and care

We’re “not natural teachers” – COVID-19 shows parents high value of early childhood education and care

New data reveals that early childhood education and care (ECEC) is having an enormous impact on Australian families during COVID-19.

June 18, 2020
COVID-19 shows supporting early learning supports the economy

COVID-19 shows supporting early learning supports the economy

Following the government’s recent emergency early learning funding announcement, The Front Project CEO, Jane Hunt, and Research Manager, Dr Stacey Fox, explain how the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of early childhood education to the economy and exposed systemic problems with Australia’s policy approach.

April 2, 2020
Australia’s economy depends on early childhood services

Australia’s economy depends on early childhood services

The industries that all Australians are relying on during the COVID-19 pandemic can only operate at their best with support from early childhood education services.

March 23, 2020
It’s time to commit to universal access to preschools

It’s time to commit to universal access to preschools

Families, business and government all benefit.

December 12, 2019
World Economic Forum 2019: The future will be a knowledge economy

World Economic Forum 2019: The future will be a knowledge economy

Early education builds the skills that support national prosperity.

December 12, 2019

Events

Register Your Interest: Transforming Early Learning Summit

Register Your Interest: Transforming Early Learning Summit

The Front Project, with The Apiary Fellowship, are bringing the voices of children and families to the centre of conversations about the future of early learning. From October for several months, we will be facilitating a series of conversations with children, families and communities across Australia to enable their contribution to dialogue on transformative visions for children’s early years futures.

September 14, 2022
Webinar - The Future Is Bright: Leaders Collaborating To Transform Early Learning

Webinar - The Future Is Bright: Leaders Collaborating To Transform Early Learning

Our recent webinar 'The Future Is Bright: Leaders Collaborating To Transform Early Learning' saw our CEO Jane Hunt, Kerry Graham of Collaboration for Impact, Associate Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett of UOW Early Start, and Dr Fiona McKenzie of Orange Compass engage in a discussion on how a systems based approach and innovative thinking can enhance the experiences of children, families and teachers and educators, particularly in the pandemic.

August 27, 2020