Independent early childhood education and care think-tank the Front Project has appointed former state Minister for Education, the Honourable John Gardner MP, as a Board Director.
Mr Gardner is retiring from the seat of Morialta in the South Australian House of Assembly at the forthcoming South Australian election.
He has held many Parliamentary responsibilities, including Minister for Education between 2018 and 2022, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Education, Training and Skills, as well as Shadow Minister for the Arts and Festivals.
While Minister for Education, Mr Gardner led the development of South Australia’s $50.1m Early Learning Strategy. This was the centre piece of the 2021 State Budget, providing funding to expand the reach, frequency and number of child development checks, seed funding the enormously successful Words Grow Minds campaign, and providing teachers with new resources to build high quality learning and development in every preschool.
Chair of the Front Project, Lisa Chung AM, says that John's experience across Government and Education will strengthen the organisation's collaboration with policymakers and sector leaders as the ECEC system goes through major change
“The Front Project exists to help build an early childhood system that delivers quality and access for families, and supports children’s agency and voice, early development, and future outcomes.
“We are delighted to welcome John to the Board as we continue working with governments, the sector and leaders across Australia to drive the meaningful, long-term reforms needed to achieve that vision.
“The ECEC sector is currently experiencing major reform. John will be a vital addition to our Board as we seek to shape the reform effort underway, understand its implications and remain future-proof as an organisation.”
Quotes attributable to John Gardner, Board Director at the Front Project:
“I’m honoured to join the board of the Front Project at a time when Australia is reimagining what a truly high-quality early learning system can look like and to contribute to the Front Project’s journey of creating a relational ECEC system.
“I’m looking forward to working with my fellow Board members to listen closely to what children, families, educators and the sector are telling us.
“If we want better outcomes for children, we need a system that makes time for connection.”
ENDS
Media contact: Jane Austen, The Front Project, 0430 549 501,