Investment in early childhood is the most valuable investment a society can make.

 

We now have a different Prime Minister. One who is obviously a proud father, whose wife has years of experience as a director of a community based occasional care centre, and one who is committed to red tape reduction, including the so called red tape in our sector contained in the National Quality Framework. 

So what lies ahead? 

A New Minister

We will not know who will be the Minister responsible for early education/childcare until later on in the week.

A Productivity Commission Review

In a 'Letter to the People of Australia' published in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, Prime Minister Abbott listed this as his third priority after removing the carbon tax and 'stopping the boats'. He said "improving access to child care is both a social and economic imperative." The Productivity Commission is to review and report by September 7, 2014.

Our sector needs to become familiar with the proposed terms of reference for the Review and consider ways to ensure we deliver consistent messages to the Review. 

• Read the Terms of Reference here.

This information is thanks to Shortside, the newsletter of Community Child Care Co-operative - a not-for-profit organisation established in 1978 to promote, support and advocate for early education and care services.

If you would like to receive the Shortside newsletter you can subscribe here.