Woodville Gardens School Newsletter

Childrens Centre

Early Childhood Royal Commission now open: a message from the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas

Yesterday, we launched our Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care which will be led by former Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard AC.

 

The Royal Commission will examine and report on how the state’s early childhood education and care services can support young South Australians to have a quality start to their education, regardless of social background.

 

As a former Minister for Education and Prime Minister, Commissioner Gillard brings extensive experience in reforming and seeking to improve Australian education outcomes and has global knowledge of the challenges facing the sector.

 

The Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care represents a significant opportunity to make transformative change to the early years system in South Australia. I encourage all of you who would like to have input to take the opportunity to do so.

 

The Royal Commission’s line of inquiry will include:

  • How South Australian families are supported in the first 1000 days of a child’s life, focussed on opportunities to further leverage early childhood education and care to improve outcomes for South Australian children.
  • How universal quality preschool programs for three and four-year-olds can be delivered in South Australia, with a goal to achieve this commencing in 2026.
  • How all families can access out of school hours care at both preschool and primary school ages, including accessibility, affordability and quality.
  • The benefits of increasing workforce participation from parents through improved access to childcare, early childhood education, and out of school hours care.

Unlike many others, this Royal Commission is not looking back at the problems of the past.

 

Instead, this Royal Commission will hear expert evidence, insights from educators, experts, unions and service providers and the experiences and views of families, parents and carers.

 

It will then provide evidence-based advice to the government on delivering a high-quality early years system that is fit for the future.

 

Further information regarding the Royal Commission – including how you can have a say – is available at www.royalcommissionecec.sa.gov.au

 

Peter Malinauskas MP

Premier of South Australia