Cr Bill McArthur, MAV President said Victorian families, kindergartens and councils had expressed growing frustration and alarm at the failure of national kinder policy reforms to ensure children won’t be displaced.
“The introduction of 15 hours preschool per week is a great initiative to improve a child’s readiness for school. However the reforms were severely under-costed by the Australian Government, leaving a $600 million infrastructure funding gap in Victoria.
“We congratulate Alan Tudge and Dan Tehan, the Federal Members for Aston and Wannon for securing the majority vote of their Federal Parliamentary colleagues last week. The support of Independent’s Tony Crook, Bob Katter, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor was instrumental.
“Minister Garrett is urged to fully fund his Government’s reforms and provide flexibility for kindergarten operators to commence 15 hours preschool as staff and infrastructure becomes available.
“In a recent paper submitted to Minister Garrett, the MAV argued that in the absence of required federal funding for capital works and workforce training and recruitment, Victoria could not meet the 2013 deadline.
“Updated analysis by the MAV confirms that at least 617 facilities across the state require Australian Government investment to meet the 15 hours goal and maintain their current high participation rates.
“Without an urgent funding injection, some kindergartens have reported they will be forced to shut down three-year old kinder programs, or other measures such as establishing waiting lists for four-year old preschool.
“The MAV has recently confirmed to Minister Garrett that Victorian councils need investment in at least 120 new kindergarten facilities, together with modifications to a further 124 kinder buildings, plus 200 new kinder rooms added to existing facilities. Many of these are in land-locked metropolitan areas.
“This work is beyond the capacity of Victorian councils who own the majority of buildings, and community groups who keep the kindergarten wheels turning through tireless volunteer work,” he said.
Kindergarten – or Early Childhood Education – is a national program, partly funded by the State and regulated through state laws. A ‘community model’ operates in Victoria, with two-thirds of all facilities owned by councils and the majority of programs run by community groups, cluster managers or parent cooperatives.
Cr McArthur said that the community sector, local government subsidies, in-kind support, fundraisers and an over-reliance on parent fees had done the job too well in Victoria for too long.
“For many years local government has voluntarily assumed a role in providing kindergarten solutions, yet we’re not a signatory to the national agreement, nor adequately funded to implement the federal policy.
“A further meeting has been sought with Minister Garrett to agree on a way forward, as the cooperation of local government is vital for achieving the national reforms in Victoria.
“We need federal funding and flexible implementation beyond 2013 to advance solutions that prevent the axing of three-year old preschool, and allow time for recruitment of an extra 600 qualified teachers,” he said.
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Contact MAV President, Cr Bill McArthur on 0437 984 793 or MAV Communications on 03 9667 5521.