Page 5789 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 7 December 2011
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The report indicates that early childhood development services for children with additional needs, and for Indigenous children, are not meeting the standards commonly available to other children. It is essential that early childhood development workforce requirements for children with additional needs and Indigenous children are given priority so that the gap between these groups and other children is minimised rather than exacerbated.
In addition, alternative childcare subsidy structures emphasising targeting to the most disadvantaged children and families could help ensure access to services for those who would benefit most. This report is the second in a series of three commission studies covering the workforces of vocational education and training, early childhood development and schools.
The Productivity Commission is a respected research and advisory body. Given that the changes are the product of nationally agreed reforms in the early childhood sector through the national quality framework, there is an obvious benefit to having a national perspective on the issue. Governments are implementing a range of substantial reforms to early childhood education and care. These reforms have substantial implications for the 140,000-strong early childhood education and care workforce. However, we do need to be very conscious of the particular circumstances of the ACT and recognise that in some aspects we are somewhat separated from the implications of these national reforms. We have a high standard of quality in some areas and may not necessarily have as much catch-up to do as some other jurisdictions.
I recognise that the motion allows for just that and asks the government to look at the issues raised by the commission in the local context. It is important that the advice given by the Productivity Commission is interpreted and applied to the ACT to ensure that we adequately respond to the issues and difficulties that we are likely to face in achieving quality outcomes for the early childhood education sector and the possible flow-on effects that could come from implementing this agenda on a local level.
The Productivity Commission report clearly outlines that the early childhood development sector contributes to the positive early life outcomes experienced by the majority of young children in Australia. The sector provides early childhood education and care, child health and family support services to over 1.5 million Australian children.
I will just turn to the Productivity Commission report and pick up on a couple of issues. Many of these issues were, of course, discussed at some length during the debate on the adoption of the national quality framework earlier this year. The supply of suitably qualified workers is likely to take some time to respond and temporary exemptions from the new standards will probably be required. There is an increased demand for qualifications and that in turn will increase demand for vocational education and training. This will require a range of responses both locally as well as nationally. I do note that there are partnership programs underway.
Appropriate and accessible professional development and support for staff are needed so that the benefits of additional training are enduring and to disseminate information
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