The Commonwealth Government, in partnership with state and territory governments, is developing a National Quality Standards Framework to improve outcomes and opportunities for children during their critical early years.
The National Quality Standards Framework is part of the Rudd Government's $2.4 billion early childhood agenda.
A set of national quality standards will ensure parents can be confident their child will have consistent high quality care and learning experiences in any child care centre or preschool anywhere in Australia.
A discussion paper has been released to guide the extensive consultation process currently underway.
A series of public consultation sessions will be held in South Australia this week including Mt Gambier on Tuesday August 26, Adelaide on Thursday August 28 and Port Augusta on Friday, August 29.
Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, says this is a unique opportunity to redesign the system to improve outcomes for children, families and centre operators.
"The new National Quality Framework needs to be ambitious, comprehensive and easy to understand, said Ms McKew.
"I hope parents, operators, educators and anyone with an interest in early childhood development will attend these consultations and give us their feedback on what they think the new framework should look like."
South Australian Minister for Early Childhood Development, Jay Weatherill, believes new national standards for child care and preschool are critical to ensuring children achieve their full potential.
"Getting it right in the early years is critical to children achieving their potential," he said.
"The setting of appropriate standards in child care and preschool will help ensure we get it right."
The consultation sessions will provide stakeholders and interested parties with an opportunity to contribute their views on the new national quality standards, the quality ratings system, streamlined or integrated regulatory arrangements and the National Early Years Learning Framework.
At the first Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting under the Rudd Government, state and territory governments agreed to work in partnership with the Commonwealth to develop a National Quality Standards Framework for early childhood education and care and an Early Years Learning Framework.
The outcomes of these consultations will be used to further inform the development and implementation of COAG’s key early childhood education and care reform initiatives including:
- draft national quality standards;
- the quality ratings system;
- a plan for improving the current regulatory and accreditation mechanisms; and,
- the Early Years Learning Framework.
To access a copy of the discussion paper and details of the consultation sessions, including locations and times, please visit http://www.deewr.gov.au/childforums