30 AugS.A Royal Commission provides comprehensive sector insight
Sunday 27 August 2023 saw Royal Commissioner and former Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard AC, release the final report of the South Australian Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care. The report delivers a comprehensive overview of the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector in South Australia and includes a range of both aspirational and achievable recommendations.
ELAA is delighted to see that the final report included recommendations that affirm ELAA’s Advocacy. These included:
- all families should have access to three days of ECEC a week, without having to meet an activity test
- connecting different types of early years services to form a wraparound care program
- strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation sector
- investing to grow capacity in quality preschool settings
- teacher registration and qualifications should reflect ACECQA requirements.
It was pleasing to read that access and quality remained a priority across the final report, with a particular focus on addressing vulnerabilities to ensure that the sector can provide fair and quality outcomes to those who interact with it.
There was a clear narrative in this report, beginning with the importance of the first 1000 days of a child’s life, followed by a case made for universal quality preschool programs for both three and four-year-olds, and finally a look into how accessibility for families can be improved with Out of School Hours Care (OSHC). The report outlined the journey children and families have when interacting with ECEC, addressing barriers within the sector with clear solutions.
It was interesting to read the proposal of a new national settlement regarding the roles and responsibilities of the states/territories and Commonwealth governments with respect to ECEC. The report recommends that states and territories have primary responsibility for ensuring quality and enabling families to be connected to information and supports within the ECEC system while the Commonwealth should have primary responsibility for accessibility to ECEC and inclusion support for families to encourage participation in Early Years programs.
ELAA welcomes the work produced by the Royal Commission and is excited to know that the final report will be considered during the Australian Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care.
CLICK HERE to read the South Australian Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care final report.
