Opinion

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Families, business and government all benefit.

Early education builds the skills that support national prosperity.