Early childhood policy experts are calling on the Federal Government to prioritise the establishment of a National Early Childhood Commission to provide comprehensive quality oversight and system stewardship in this term of parliament, and as Australia advances towards universal provision of early learning.
Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow, CEO of The Front Project, a leading early childhood policy think tank, said the lack of national stewardship of the early learning sector has led to a patchwork of policy measures across states and territories, which has in part contributed to the current safety crisis facing the system.
"The Federal Government's decision to fast-track legislation stripping funding from providers who routinely breach safety standards is a welcome step, but it doesn't address the fundamental problem of fragmented oversight," Dr Croser-Barlow said.
"Without proper national coordination, we're left with inconsistent enforcement, gaps in accountability, and ultimately, the safety failures we've witnessed.
"This term of government will likely see rapid advances towards the universal provision of early childhood education and care
"As billions of dollars in public investment flow into the system, we need a National Early Childhood Commission to ensure quality and safety standards keep pace with this rapid growth.
"A national commission would provide the system stewardship required to coordinate across jurisdictions, ensure consistent application of Australia's world-leading quality framework, and maintain accountability as we scale up.
"Without this oversight, we risk building a larger system that repeats the same problems we're seeing today.
"As the Federal Government takes steps to expand access to early learning and build a universal system, a national commission is not just important, it’s essential.
"We urge the Federal Government to prioritise the establishment of a National Early Childhood Commission in this term's reform agenda," Dr Croser-Barlow said.
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