At its most recent meeting, the AEU federal executive endorsed the updated Preschool Funding Now campaign.
The campaign calls on the federal government to provide guaranteed permanent funding, universal access for two years of preschool for all states and territories, and also identifies the need to implement a strong and effective workforce strategy for the sector.
We have seen the Morrison government repeatedly drip-feed funding for four-year-old preschool on a year-by-year basis, with no funding provision for three-year-old programs. Despite extensive research pointing out the lifelong benefits to children of two years of preschool, they continue to show little interest in providing their share of the required funding.
We will be sharing information about campaign activities soon and urge EC members to get involved. Activities will focus on:
- branches coordinating and assisting early childhood members to lobby their local MPs in the lead up to the federal budget on 4 May
- highlighting stories about the important work members in the EC sector do
- asking EC members and the broader community to sign-up to the Preschool Funding Now website and Facebook page
- encouraging all members to participate in the ACECQA Workforce Strategy survey to be held between 29 March and 30 April.
