Former SA Premier Jay Weatherill makes case for early years education in the NT

A former South Australian premier with a passion for childhood development has (successfully) put early years education on the NT’s election agenda.

Thrive by Five’s Jay Weatherill and Sarah Rheinberger visit Parliament House to meet with Mark Monaghan and Jo Hersey. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

A Labor promise to double preschool availability for four-year-olds came just one day after a former South Australian premier appealed to the NT’s political leaders to put early childhood development on the election agenda.

Jay Weatherill – now the director for Thrive by Five – made a case for the campaign’s five-point action plan during a meeting with Education Minister Mark Monaghan and Opposition Education Spokeswoman Jo Hersey on Monday afternoon.

Mr Weatherill said the campaign had already been welcomed by both parties because cost of living pressures were at forefront of Territorians’ minds.

Thrive by Five Director Jay Weatherill. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“That (often) translates into early childhood development outcomes,” he said.

“If you’ve got families under financial pressure... highly stressed parents find it more difficult to be the best parents they can be.”

Mr Weatherill said the campaign focused not just on education itself but the “gamut” of childhood development resources, such as allied health, disability services, parenting support, and child protection.

He said the action plan would also work on addressing the root causes of youth crime in the Territory.

“People are getting a bit sick of the idea of just locking them up,” he said.

“That might make us all feel good for a while but the truth is they’re going to get out.

“It’s a more superior proposition to make sure these crimes don’t occur in the first place.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Chief Minister Eva Lawler’s promise to double preschool availability if re-elected in August made headlines on Wednesday morning.

The $35.5m commitment would increase preschool funding from 15 to 30 hours at up to 25 preschools, bringing them in line with primary school hours.

The “Positive Pre-school Plan” would be delivered in a staged rollout over four years.

“These are common sense changes that give Territory kids the very best start in life and deliver early education that works better for families,” Ms Lawler said.

“Doubling the hours of free preschool available to four year olds will help Territory families with the cost of living and make sure Territory kids get the benefits of more early education.”

Mr Weatherill said he was thrilled to see the announcement from Labor in the wake of his meeting with the NT’s education leaders and hoped to see the CLP match the promise.