How we are placing children at the centre

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today. 

And pay my respects to their elders past and present – as well as First Nations people here with us today. 

This includes Aunty Caroline who’s played an incredible role helping young people get into education and training here on Ngunnawal country. 

I am deeply aware of how much we can learn from First Peoples about putting children at the heart of community as we continue to build the early learning system children need and deserve, as Caroline explained. 

I’d also like to acknowledge my Parliamentary colleagues here today from across the aisles. 

And thank the organisers of today’s event for inviting me to speak, particularly:  

• Professor Sharon Goldfeld from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and 
• Catherine Liddle from SNAICC. 

 

Late last year, I was pleased to speak at the National Child and Family Hubs conference in Melbourne.  

This was a chance for practitioners to talk through practical ways that Hubs can deliver better outcomes for children and families. 

Over the last nine months I’ve had the opportunity to visit many early-learning centred Hubs, and each one of them has impressed me in different ways. 

Like Bubup Wilam – an ACCO-run early learning hub in Victoria that works with families to raise strong, proud and deadly kids. 

And Our Place in Morwell (that we saw in the video earlier), where a wide range of early learning, primary school, local Council and other services have come together to deliver careful support for families. 

As the parent in the video mentioned, the opportunities there gave her confidence and truly felt like a second home. 

Last month I was in Derby, up in the Kimberley, to announce funding for the new Derby Early Learning and Family Centre. 

As part of our $1 billion Building Early Education Fund, we are investing $9 million in this new multi-purpose hub to be codesigned, built and run by the Ngunga (NUNG-ah) Womens Group, who have been running playgroups in parks and playgrounds in the local community for years. 

This is alongside investments from the Western Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation. Together with our philanthropic partners, we’re dedicating $100 million to building more services just like Derby in other communities. 

While I was in Derby, the leader of the local ACCO health service – Shelley Kneebone – spoke with me about the impact this hub will have for local children and their families. 

And in particular the chance for families in Derby and in surrounding communities to come together in one natural, welcoming environment.  This is where they would also receive vital early health checks as well. 

A place with multiple services – early learning, playgroups, child and family health, and outside school hours care. And it is being designed to be able to scale up over time.   

I know that Child and Family Hubs like Derby, Our Place and others will be an important part of the universal early education and care system that our Government is building.  

And as highlighted in the Thriving Kids Advisory Group report – which I know many people here were involved with – Hubs are also expected to be an important “front door” for the upcoming Thriving Kids program. 

This is because we know – and you know – that early education and care is a critical entry point for giving every child a great start in life. 

No matter their postcode. 

No matter what their parents do. 

That’s why we’re committed to building a quality, universal education and care system.  

With access, affordability and quality at the heart.  

Greater access is the principle behind our $1 billion Building Early Education Fund – building more services where Australian families need them most – especially in regional and rural areas.  

We have already signed agreements with four states to deliver almost 2,000 new places. 

With more grant rounds underway for quality not-for-profit providers to build new, or expand existing, facilities in underserved areas.  

Many of the projects already funded are co-located with primary schools and others are in integrated hub locations. 

Helping children move smoothly into school, and giving families one less drop-off to juggle.  

And affordability is behind our 3 Day Guarantee, that started in January this year. 

This means that every child now has the right to 3 days of Child Care Subsidy each week. 

And 5 days a week for families with First Nations children. 

Instead of closing off access based on what parents do, we are opening it up, based on what children need. 

We are also strengthening this important sector and putting quality for children front and centre. 

Our historic 15% pay rise for educators is stabilising the workforce – because we know a quality workforce is the foundation of quality learning.  

And our child safety package is the biggest reform to the sector since the national early learning system was introduced 15 years ago including making children’s safety and well-being the paramount consideration in law. 

These are the building blocks of a quality universal early education system. 

And we welcome your help to build this system – and to make it as good as it can be. 

We look forward to working together to ensure that children – and their families – are always placed at the centre. 

Thank you.