This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
AS the sector faces ongoing hurdles, former prime minister Julia Gillard has been appointed to head the South Australian Royal Commission into early childhood education.
The Malinauskas government has tasked the Royal Commission to investigate reforms needed to enable better access to quality childhood education and care to South Australian families.
Minderoo’s Thrive by Five initiative welcomed the appointment news, citing Gillard’s work in education sector during her term as prime minister and education minister.
“Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s appointment as the head of South Australia’s Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education is a very welcome move,” said Jay Weatherill, director at Thive by Five.
“During her time in Government, both as Education Minister and Prime Minister, Ms Gillard oversaw major reforms and was instrumental in delivering policy outcomes that fundamentally reformed our nation’s early education system for the better. She is also a committed champion of educational equity and access.”
Weatherill noted the early years of childhood as crucial to brain development, with this time having a long lasting impact on the lifelong health, well-being and learning of children.
“The size of a child’s brain reaches 90 per cent of an adult’s by the age of five. Early learning can be a great equaliser for children, helping them start formal learning on an equal par with other children,” added Weatherill.
Last month, the federal government introduced new legislation for cheaper childcare parliament, in a bid to ease the cost of living and up workforce participation, potentially cutting the price of early learning education from $50 a day to less than $20 a day.
“Thrive by Five is calling for a universally accessible, high-quality early learning system across Australia and we look forward to seeing the outcomes of the South Australian Royal Commission in getting us closer to the goal,” concluded Weatherill.
