early childhood education

Australia’s childcare system is leaving gaps for families, while profit-driven services struggle to meet the needs of communities.

Universal early learning depends on educators feeling valued, supported and able to build long, rewarding careers

A win, yes. But we must keep advocating for reforms to improve the wellbeing, status, conditions and pay of early childhood educators, writes Associate Professor Marg Rogers

Child abuse in early learning continues to grow because systemic naivety, secrecy, neglect and ignorance allow perpetrators to thrive.

Parents are now being forced into an unconscionable calculation: weighing their child’s safety against their family’s livelihood.

The states and territories have agreed to several national reforms to help improve children’s safety in early childhood education.

Children’s safety can’t wait; parents must demand action now, asking tough questions while systems catch up with urgent safeguarding needs.

In this moment of national grief and reckoning, the last thing families need is guilt piled on top of their fear and distress.

We need a national inquiry to fix failing child safety systems and protect children from evolving sexual abuse threats.

Universal childcare won’t work without enough well-paid educators. We must urgently invest in the workforce to meet growing demand.

Every child deserves safe, high-quality early learning, no matter where they live—it’s the key to opportunity, fairness, and hope.

During the election, when asked about his legacy, the Prime Minister didn’t hesitate: universal, affordable early childhood education and care.