Labor to give toy libraries, playgroups $6.1m if elected

Toy libraries and playgroups will get a $6.1 million cash injection if Labor wins the election, in a major sweetener for parents.

Exclusive: Labor is setting aside $6 million for a toy cash splash as it pursues the parent vote.

The funding for toy libraries and playgroups involves grants of between $5000 and $15,000 open to individual operators and $50,000 grants for overarching organisations.

The cash must be used to expand and set up more playgroups and libraries and replenish stocks of toys, books, paints and crafts.

Grants via the Department of Education and Training would start in 2019-20 and go for three years.

Labor said the money was part of its $1.75 billion National Preschool and Kindy Program and would be funded via its proposal to end negative gearing tax deductions on all but new housing.

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Sienna Ulrich, three, with brother Torsten, 18 months, and mum Chelsea Englund enjoying the benefits of a playgroup in NSW. Picture: Toby Zerna

While the role of playgroups and toy libraries has been praised by some, others have labelled the toy buy a sugar hit for parents in an attempt to get Labor over the line at the expected May poll.

Labor’s early childhood spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth said playgroups and toy libraries were “valuable community services”.

“They provide a safe and welcoming environment for parents and children to access a range of educational toys and developmental experiences at little to no cost,” Ms Rishworth said.

The Australian Childcare Alliance’s Nesha Hutchinson said while playgroups and toy libraries were important, the money could be better spent reducing the cost of childcare for parents nationally.

“Playgroups and toy libraries are not high quality early childhood education which we know benefits children the most,” Ms Hutchinson said.

“A lot more money could be spent in making childcare accessible through affordability.”

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While the role of playgroups and toy libraries has been praised by some, others have labelled Labor’s plan a sugar hit for parents leading into the May federal election. Picture: Toby Zerna

Chief executive of Early Childhood Australia Sam Page said it was not an either or scenario.

“It’s not about choosing one or the other, we need a range of different initiatives and programs to benefit all children,” she said.

“We need a national co-ordinated early years strategy that is cross-portfolio.”

President of Toy Libraries Australia Debbie Williams said toy libraries met the needs of low socio-economic families who weren’t able to afford all the toys their kids needed, but also increasingly families who were short of space or environmentally conscious were turning to the service.

“There is overwhelming evidence that investing in play has a very high return on investment for the whole community,” Ms Williams said.

“This funding will be supporting over 60,000 children over a year in this country.”

While toy libraries meet the needs of low socio-economic families, the money would be better spent on reducing the cost of childcare, the childcare alliance says.

Across Australia more than 250,000 children and families access 7500 playgroups and 380 toy libraries.

The federal government in part helps to fund playgroups, however toy libraries receive no federal funding and are largely volunteer-run.

Members generally pay an annual fee between $50 and $100 and can borrow as many toys as they like.

Some toys in the libraries cost upwards of $400, including a robot coding toy that is available in an inner-Melbourne toy library.

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Originally published as Labor to give toy libraries, playgroups $6.1m if elected