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National Kindergarten Reforms Advocacy

 

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About the campaign

In November 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), as part of its early childhood reforms, endorsed the national agenda of universal access to 15 hours of kindergarten a week for four year-olds from 2013.

We agree in principle to the reforms but has concerns about the funding needed to implement them in the required timeframe.

Capacity assessments were undertaken by all Victorian councils in 2010 and 2011 to identify options and solutions to deliver 15 hours of kindergarten within their municipality. Through these assessments an infrastructure shortfall of at least $600 million was identified, as well as the need for 600 additional qualified teachers.

More than 610 facilities require infrastructure investment to provide 15 hours of preschool, with at least 444 (72 per cent) being council-owned. This includes new kindergarten buildings, as well as additional kinder rooms and modifications to existing facilities.

We are advocating for the Australian Government to dramatically increase its investment in early childhood education and care and fully fund all of its COAG early childhood reforms.

We've written a Universal access issues paper detailing what is needed to achieve 15 hours’ kindergarten access in Victoria by 2013 and is calling on the Australian Government to:

  • commit a minimum investment of $606m for local government infrastructure
  • provide $36 million change management funding
  • fully fund the additional hours to increase Victoria’s average kinder program from 10 to 15 hours
  • immediately invest in workforce initiatives to ensure demand for extra qualified staff is met
  • establish more realistic transitional timelines
  • encourage flexible responses that preserve Victoria’s unique integrated service system, including three-year old preschool programs.

Our advocacy

Our campaign advocacy has included:

  • new capital funding round of $50 million announced by Minister Lovell for 2012 – 13 (April 2012)
  • meeting with Shadow Minister for Children and Young Adults, Jenny Mikakos (16 April 2012)
  • ​two kindergarten funding rates announced to enable services to implement 15 hours in 2013 if they can, or make a transition if they face challenges involving workforce, infrastructure or displacement (2 April 2012)
  • meeting with Jennifer Taylor, deputy secretary, Office of Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (15 March 2012)
  • ​meeting with Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell (25 February 2012)
  • submission to the Victorian Budget (February 2012)
  • meeting with Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell  (21 December 2011)
  • a record $26m capital funding round announced by Minister Lovell for 2011 – ​12 (16 November 2011)
  • meeting with Jennifer Taylor, deputy secretary, Office of Early Childhood Education and Care, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) (31 October 2011)
  • submission to the Victorian Government Kindergarten Fee Review (September 2011)
  • meeting with Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett on (28 September 2011)
  • meeting with Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell (September 2011)
  • MAV submission to Productivity Commission’s Early childhood development workforce draft report (September 2011)
  • briefing paper sent to the Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett (August 2011)
  • meeting with Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell (June 2011)
  • meeting with Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett (May 2011)
  • letter sent to Federal Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, Peter Garrett (March 2011)
  • meeting with Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Wendy Lovell (March 2011)
  • letter sent to the Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Early Childhood, Peter Garrett (October 2010)
  • meeting with former Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand (September 2010)
  • MAV submission to COAG mid-term review (July 2010)
  • meeting with former Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand (June 2010)
  • MAV advocacy position sent to the Australian Government (June 2010)
  • meeting with former Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, Maxine Morand (March 2010)

Advocacy as part of our 2010 Federal Election campaign included:

  • briefing an adviser to The Hon. Warren Truss, Nationals Leader and Shadow Minister for Local Government
  • briefing The Hon. Dr Sharman Stone, Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education who issued a supportive media release
  • raising the matter with The Hon. Anthony Albanese, Minister for Infrastructure and Local Government
  • request from the office of the Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education, The Hon. Kate Ellis to provide a briefing.

About kindergarten provision

Local government voluntarily invests significant funds and resources towards kindergarten provision – councils own the majority of facilities, are a major service planner and provider, and offer subsidies and other assistance for kinder programs

Of Victoria’s 1 320 community-based kindergartens, at least 879 (67 per cent) operate from council-owned buildings.

The vast majority of Victorian kindergartens operate on a not-for-profit basis by community organisations, councils, cluster managers or parent cooperatives.

Victoria’s ‘community model’ also relies on community and parent support (including fees and fundraising) to keep programs running.

This unique integrated model has contributed to more than 96 per cent of Victorian children participating for an average 11.8 hours per week in community kindergarten programs.