‘By focusing on division rather than age-appropriate, fact-based education, we are setting another generation up for failure’

The federal government’s Early Years Learning Framework has been criticised for “indoctrinating infants and toddlers to radical social justice theory”.

The childcare regulator says social justice in early years is an ‘exciting’ ­opportunity to explore issues around gender, sexuality, race and culture. Picture: Getty

A new curriculum for Australia’s childcare centres has been accused of turning toddlers into cultural and environmental activists and ignoring the role of parents.

The Institute of Public ­Affairs says the federal government’s Early Years Learning Framework is “indoctrinating infants and toddlers to radical social justice theory, rather than allowing children to simply be children”.

An IPA analysis of the framework found diversity, inclusion and equity mentioned 149 times, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and reconciliation 96 times. However, mother, father and parent were not mentioned at all.

The federal government’s childcare regulator, the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, guides childcare centres in ­applying the framework.

IPA analysis of the framework found diversity, inclusion and equity mentioned 149 times. Picture: iStock

The regulator suggests childcare services perform a daily Acknowledgement of Country and display both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags on their premises.

It states that social justice in early years is an “exciting” ­opportunity to explore issues around gender, sexuality, race and culture.

Bella d’Abrera, director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation program at the IPA, said most parents would be unaware activism was “at the heart of the mandatory education being forced upon their child”.

“These centres should be where children play in sandpits, draw with crayons, and have afternoon naps, not be ­inducted into the cults of social justice, identity politics and sustainability by activist educators,” Dr d’Abrera said.

Centres should be where children play in sandpits, draw with crayons, and have afternoon naps, Bella d’Abrera says.

“Parents should be very concerned that the Australian government supports young children being exposed to very adult themes such as gender, sexuality, race, culture and the environment, years before it is appropriate.

“As Australia’s education system has shifted away from the acquisition of knowledge towards activism and social justice, results have continued to slide compared to other ­nations. By focusing on division rather than age-appropriate, fact-based education, we are setting another generation up for failure.”

One childcare industry insider said there was “not a huge uproar” about the framework, but that there was likely to be a range of views”.

Dr d’Abrera says parents should be very concerned that the Australian government supports young children being exposed to very adult themes.

“It is not applied in a prescriptive way,” they said.

“Some services in inner Melbourne will have a very different interpretation of what is needed compared to those in regional communities.”

The lack of mention of parents or role for parents in the framework comes despite a commitment by the federal government to empower parents, caregivers and families in early childhood care and education.

The Belonging, Being and Becoming framework, introduced in 2009, was updated in 2023 and made compulsory for 2024. A similar Victoria-specific framework informs early childhood services.

New principles covering awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and sustainability were introduced in the latest update.

A spokesman for the federal Department of Education said approved learning frameworks had “always included respect for diversity and the ongoing learning and the sharing of ­Aboriginal and Torres Strait ­Islander cultures”.

Originally published as ‘By focusing on division rather than age-appropriate, fact-based education, we are setting another generation up for failure’