Early learning report highlights decline in government investment

Early learning in Australia is lagging behind other developed countries, a new report card from the peak early childhood advocacy has found.

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Families across Australia are facing deep inequity in terms of access to early learning, according to a new report card from the peak early childhood advocacy group.

The State of early learning in Australia 2019 report card shows Australia is lagging behind other developed countries with access to early childcare for preschoolers.

It has also revealed key workforce issues with early childhood teachers churning through the system.

Research has shown the first five years of a child’s life are crucial to their lifelong development and children who attend early learning services are 33 per cent less likely to be developmentally vulnerable when they start school.

Early Childhood Australia CEO Samantha Page said a small increase in spending would make a significant difference to Australia’s positioning in the world.

“Just a 1.75 per cent increase in the Federal Government’s spending on education would bring Australia in line with other leading English-speaking countries and deliver outcomes that benefit our nation throughout each child’s educational journey and beyond,” she said.

Ms Page said the increasing numbers of children attending early learning services across Australia has created a deeper divide with those that miss out.

She added that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are the most vulnerable and that all states and territories needed improvement.

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“It is just a lottery of postcodes – it depends on where they live and we would like to see that evened out,” Ms Page said.

“We would also like to see an extension of preschool for two years before school.

“Other countries with similar economies to ours – they are all looking at quality preschool program for two years before starting school, not just the one year.

“If we had more children starting school, ready for school, we would make a huge difference to their long term education capabilities.”

State of Early Learning in Australia 2019. Source: Supplied

The report states that Australian Government’s investment in early learning per child declined between 2016 and 2019 and that low-income families devote a higher proportion of their income to early learning services, even with government subsidies.

The report states: “Those on the lowest incomes pay almost double the proportion of their income after subsidies (8 per cent), compared with those on high incomes (4.7 per cent).”

The report also highlighted workforce issues, showing that staff turnover and loss to the sector is estimated at 30 per cent to 50 per cent and that one in every five educators expresses an intention to leave the sector in the next year.

Ms Page said national leadership was needed to solve the issue with the country facing a shortage of childcare teachers.

“One of the problems we have is churn, they do their qualifications and move into the school system as soon as they can because of the pay difference,” she said.

“We need to pay early childhood teachers on a more equitable basis and try and match some of the working conditions people have in the school system.”

Chair of Goodstart Early Learning Michael Traill AM said while much of the rest of the world is ramping up investment in early learning, the report shows Australia is at risk of falling behind, with Australia’s investment in early learning below the OECD average.

‘This report is a wake-up call that much more needs to be done to give Australia’s children the best possible start in life,” he said.

“It should be compulsory reading for every senior government official and business leader in the country.”

Originally published as Early learning report highlights decline in government investment