Universal Access to Early Childhood Education

What is the Universal Access to early childhood education commitment?

Universal Access to early childhood education is an Australian Government commitment to provide access to a quality early childhood education program for all children by 2013, delivered by a university trained early childhood teacher, for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks a year, in the year before formal schooling (often referred to as ‘preschool’ or ‘kindergarten’).

The states and territories are responsible for delivery of pre-school education. In each state and territory, different arrangements exist for the regulation, funding and delivery of early childhood education and child care services differ. Therefore, the things your state or territory government does to increase the participation of all children in preschool may differ to approaches used elsewhere.

For the first time the Australian Government is making a major investment in early childhood education for all Australian children ($970 million in Commonwealth funding, over five years to 2012-13) and the states and territories have committed to achieving universal access to early childhood education for all children in the year before school by 2013.

What does this mean for my child?

Universal Access will ensure that by 2013 your child will, in the year before formal schooling, have access to a play-based learning and development program:

  • for 15 hours a week, 40 weeks of the year before they start school
  • taught by a four-year university qualified early childhood teacher 
  •  delivered in a range of settings including child care, in order to meet the needs of working parents.

Research shows that participating in a quality early childhood education program has ongoing benefits for children throughout their schooling and beyond, especially those from more disadvantaged backgrounds. The universal access initiative aims to improve participation in quality early childhood education for all Australian children.

Do I have to wait until 2013 to benefit from the Universal Access Initiative?

No. 2013 is the target date for ensuring all children have access to quality early childhood education but most families will benefit much earlier from the significant investment the Australian Government is making now towards this goal.

Some families are already benefiting as state and territory governments are using the new funding to trial and progressively implement changes to pre-schooling. Benefits will differ depending on where you live, but can include: more preschool places accessible from a diverse range of services, including child care to meet the needs of working families; increased preschool hours up to a minimum of 15 hours per week, 40 weeks per year; enhanced quality requirements and information to parents about the quality of services.

Does my child have to take part?

No, it remains your choice about whether to send your child to preschool. Universal access means that preschooling must be available for all children in the year before school. The Australian Government believes that providing access to a preschool program will help your child prepare for school, for learning and for life.

Does Universal Access mean that early childhood education is free?

No. The Australian and state and territory governments have committed to work together to reduce cost as a barrier to accessing quality early childhood education. It will be up to states and territories and providers to determine what cost, if any, will be passed on to parents for 15 hours of early childhood education. Many states and territories already provide free or very low cost early childhood education.

How is universal access being put into action?

Each state and territory has committed to achieving universal access to early childhood education for all children in the year before school by 2013.

Funding of $10 million was provided across all states and territories in 2008 for innovative projects to improve access to early childhood programs.

Under a National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education with states and territories, the Australian Government will invest a total of $970 million in early childhood education over five years to 2012-13.

The national partnership details the state-by-state distribution of $955 million for achieving universal access to quality early childhood education in the year before schooling. It allocates a further $15 million over five years to develop better data and performance information. The table below shows the distribution of funding.

$ million

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

2011-12

2012-13

Total

New South Wales

10.2

21.3

26.9

82.3

137.9

278.6

Victoria

7.4

15.3

19.3

59.1

109.5

210.6

Queensland

11.2

23.4

29.5

90.3

97.6

252.0

Western Australia

3.7

7.7

9.7

29.7

47.6

98.4

South Australia

2.5

5.2

6.6

20.2

30.9

65.4

Tasmania

0.7

1.5

1.9

5.9

10.4

20.4

Australian Capital Territory

0.4

0.9

1.2

3.6

7.1

13.2

Northern Territory

0.7

1.5

1.9

5.9

5.9

15.9

Total

37.0

77.0

97.0

297.0

447.0

955.0

In 2009, states and territories will initiate specific activities to improve the accessibility, quality and affordability of early childhood education. These activities will vary between states and territories to take into account the different challenges facing each jurisdiction.

Fact sheets on the implementation of Universal Access in each state and territory can be found here:

You can find more information on the Early Childhood section of the DEEWR website

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