The introduction of a national Early Education and Care Commission, which is to be considered by national Education Ministers, would be a welcome step to increase regulatory certainty and improve child safety, United Workers Union said today.
Quotes attributable to United Workers Union Early Education Director Carolyn Smith:
“After the shocking safety incidents revealed in early education last year it became clear that a patchwork regulatory response across states and a national early education authority were not necessarily the best model to respond to the serious issues being raised.
“We have consistently welcomed regulatory changes designed to make the system safer for children, and we believe significant improvements have been made on child safety nationally.
“However our members have seen slightly different regulatory responses across states and an uncertain role for the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority.
“We are now briefing our members about their responsibilities under new regulatory changes, but those briefings are slightly different depending on which state they live in.
“Anything that promises to further improve national standards and increase regulatory certainty will be welcomed by our members, who are doing a job they love to give children and families the quality education and care they deserve.
“On a related matter, educators have continued to raise serious concerns about whether the current settings of the National Quality Framework administered by ACECQA – particularly around ratios – live up to the ambition of delivering quality education and care to Australian children.
“ACECQA also has little ability to address so-called ‘childcare deserts’ in the provision of early education and care, despite the Federal Government providing the vast bulk of funding to support the sector.
“Anything that seeks to improve the ability to lift standards nationally, and move towards the Albanese Labor Government’s stated goal of a universal early education system accessible to all Australian children, will be supported by our members.
“Finally, we welcome the commitments of Education Minister Jason Clare and Early Education Minister Dr Jess Walsh to consult with our members about any important changes in this area.”