Early learning in Australia is becoming increasingly difficult for families to afford, and even those who can afford expensive services are struggling to find places due to workforce shortages and a lack of early learning centres.

Research has shown that roughly 22% of children start school developmentally vulnerable, and that complex subsidy arrangements and activity tests are causing around 126,000 to miss out on crucial early learning and care.

Without significant reform, children will continue to miss out on early learning and families will continue to struggle balancing work and care responsibilities, with far reaching consequences.

The report proposes 10 transformative reforms to create a truly inclusive early education and care system for all children and families. They include boosting workforce support and investment, defining clear government roles, investing to establish new services in unserved and underserved communities, and enhancing data sharing.

The report’s key reforms are:

• A legislated entitlement for all children to access three days of education and care per week at a low set fee, such as $10 a day, or no cost.
• Shifting to a child-centred funding model, replacing the childcare subsidy with base funding for all providers and additional needs and service-based funding for specific costs.
• Ensuring the system is equitable and inclusive by providing increased support and funding based on children and families’ needs.

The proposed changes aim to make early education accessible, affordable, and equitable for everyone.