Professor Deborah Brennan AM has been appointed to co-lead the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia’s early childhood education and care system.
The inquiry is expected to lay the foundations for achieving a universally accessible, high-quality early learning and care system in Australia.
One of Australia’s leading researchers in comparative welfare, family policy and gender and politics, Professor Brennan will be at the forefront of the inquiry’s efforts.
Welcoming her appointment to the role, CEO of The Parenthood, Georgie Dent said: “As a globally renowned academic with expertise in early education Professor Brennan is eminently qualified to lead this inquiry.”
Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five initiative’s Director, Jay Weatherill also called Professor Brennan’s appointment “particularly welcome news” and that she “embodies the skills and experience necessary to oversee such a significant inquiry.”
Along with Professor Brennan’s appointment, the Productivity Commission has released the terms of reference for their inquiry into early childhood education.
“These terms of reference lay out, in perhaps the most comprehensive and detailed manner, the kind of bold reforms needed to make our country’s early learning and care system truly affordable and accessible for all Australian families,” said Weatherill.
“From addressing the rapidly escalating workforce crises across the sector and tackling the issue of affordability head-on, they provide a clear outline for the scope of reforms necessary.”
Giving more context to the inquiry’s importance, Dent said “Beyond the government’s ‘Cheaper Child Care’ reforms that will make early learning more affordable for families from 1 July, this inquiry will examine the system more broadly including access and workforce shortages.”
“Investment in early childhood education and care is an investment in building the nation’s social capital. It is an investment in the future prosperity of the country and just as important as physical infrastructure.”
“For every dollar invested in early childhood education we get at least $2 in return,” said Dent, adding that “there is not a person or organisation in Australia that won’t benefit from a universal, quality early childhood education and care system.”
Despite the benefits of bettering Australia’s early learning and care system, Weatherill says the current system is still “leaving too many families behind”.
“The Productivity Commission’s inquiry provides a unique and rare opportunity for our political decision makers to act boldly and implement the reforms necessary to offer every child in Australia the best chance for success in life,” said Weatherill.
Dent says the key to progress on gender and income equality, healthy child development and family well-being, educational outcomes,economic growth and prosperity is a comprehensive early childhood education and care system.
“It is social, educational and economic reform that will help ensure all children are set up for success,” said Dent.
“Few reforms can deliver such strong economic returns, let alone the health, educational and social benefits for children and their families.”