Latest from Jess
Address to National Youth Forum
- Speeches
- 4 minute read
Address to National Youth Forum
I acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today. Welcome to the representatives...
How we are placing children at the centre
- Speeches
- 3 minute read
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...
Youth Meets Parliament Week Welcome Speech
- Speeches
- 3 minute read
Youth Meets Parliament Week Welcome Speech
I’d like to start today by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples. I’d also like...
Building the early learning system that Australian children need
- Speeches
- 4 minute read
Building the early learning system that Australian children need
I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered today - the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples – and pay my respects to their elders past and present. And I...
Visit to Goodstart Narwee in Sydney
- News
- 1 minute read
Visit to Goodstart Narwee in Sydney
Our biggest asset in early learning is our educators. That was crystal clear when Jason Clare MP, local MP Zhi Soon and I visited Goodstart...
Safety in early education and care update
- Media Releases
- 4 minute read
Safety in early education and care update
A new national worker register and child safety training for early educators becomes mandatory across the country today. These changes are part of our $226...
Delivering a new early learning and family centre in Derby
- Media Releases
- 4 minute read
Delivering a new early learning and family centre in Derby
The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments and the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children (IDAC) are partnering to deliver a new Early Learning and Family Centre...
Expanding access to early education in Victoria
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
Expanding access to early education in Victoria
The Albanese and Victorian Governments have reached a historic agreement for $170.1 million in joint funding to deliver more not-for-profit early learning services in Victoria’s...
Expanding access to early education in Whitlam
- Media Releases
- 1 minute read
Expanding access to early education in Whitlam
The Albanese and ACT Governments have reached a historic agreement delivering $10 million through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to deliver more not-for-profit...
A new early learning centre for Whitlam
- Articles
- 1 minute read
A new early learning centre for Whitlam
Whitlam is one of Canberra’s newest suburbs – named after a Labor legend. Like a lot of newer suburbs, it’s home to a growing number...
Applications for the Building Early Education Fund large-scale grant round are now open
- Articles
- 1 minute read
Applications for the Building Early Education Fund large-scale grant round are now open
Every child deserves access to quality early learning, no matter their postcode or what their parents do. That’s why the Albanese Labor Government’s $1 billion...
Back in Canberra with a big agenda
- Articles
- 1 minute read
Back in Canberra with a big agenda
We’re back in Canberra with a BIG agenda for early education and care in 2026 💗 Every child deserves access to early learning no matter...
ABC Heywire Gala Speech
- Speeches
- 3 minute read
ABC Heywire Gala Speech
Hello Heywire and Trailblazer Winners and esteemed guests! Before I begin, I want to acknowledge the Ngunnawal and Nambri peoples, who are the Traditional Owners...
Expanding access to early education in Tasmania
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
Expanding access to early education in Tasmania
The Albanese and Rockliff Governments have reached a historic agreement for $25.5 million through the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund and $5 million from...
2026 Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
2026 Young Australian of the Year Nedd Brockmann
Congratulations to Nedd Brockmann from New South Wales for being named the national 2026 Young Australian of the Year. Nedd Brockmann captured national attention in...
Expanding access to early education in regional South Australia
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
Expanding access to early education in regional South Australia
The Albanese and Malinauskas Governments have reached an historic agreement under the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund to delivery more not for profit early...
Three-day guarantee a ‘huge step’ in universal early education target
- Op-Eds
- 3 minute read
Three-day guarantee a ‘huge step’ in universal early education target
This op-ed was originally published in The Australian on 5 January 2026 This year, we will see a huge shift in the way government understands...
Delivering Labor’s 3 Day Guarantee for Early Childhood Education
- Articles
- 1 minute read
Delivering Labor’s 3 Day Guarantee for Early Childhood Education
Every child deserves access to quality early learning. But too often, the children who need it most have been blocked from the system because of...
Delivering safe, quality early learning
- Articles
- 1 minute read
Delivering safe, quality early learning
Flashback to my first keynote as new Minister to the National Early Years Summit back in June. Six months later, as 2025 draws to a...
The pay rise that’s helping educators stay in the jobs they love
- Op-Eds
- 2 minute read
The pay rise that’s helping educators stay in the jobs they love
This op-ed was originally published in big boost for the dedicated, professional educators who help give our youngest Australians the best possible start in life. Women...
Early childhood educators receive 15 per cent pay rise
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
Early childhood educators receive 15 per cent pay rise
The Albanese Labor Government has delivered a historic 15 per cent pay rise for early childhood educators, with the final five per cent hitting educators...
Today is a historic day for our nation’s dedicated, professional early childhood educators
- Op-Eds
- 2 minute read
Today is a historic day for our nation’s dedicated, professional early childhood educators
It means an extra $160 a week in educators’ pockets. When you combine that with the regular award increase, educators are getting an extra $200...
Early education and care services to close from 5pm a few times a year for mandatory safety training
- Media Releases
- 1 minute read
Early education and care services to close from 5pm a few times a year for mandatory safety training
From next year, early childhood education and care (ECEC) services can close from 5pm on a few days each year to conduct mandatory child safety...
Legislation passes to strengthen integrity, expand access and improve information across the education system
- Media Releases
- 2 minute read
Legislation passes to strengthen integrity, expand access and improve information across the education system
The Albanese Government has today passed legislation to strengthen the integrity of the international education sector, expand access to medical places for Indigenous students and...