Page 837 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 27 February 2013
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MADAM SPEAKER: Ms Porter’s question was to the Minister for Community Services.
MS BURCH: Child care; it is Education and Training.
MADAM SPEAKER: Could you sit down for a second, Ms Burch? When Ms Porter asked the question I thought it was going to be a question directed to Mr Barr. Can we just clarify that the question is to Ms Burch in her capacity as Minister for Education and Training.
MS BURCH: There has been a change. Early education and care has moved over to the Education and Training Directorate. That was clearly explained at the most recent annual reports hearings. I thank Ms Porter for her question. As the member noted or reflected in her question, the ACT government investment has helped the education and care sector grow quite substantially over the last decade.
Indeed, since this Labor government came to office the number of available places has doubled, with more than 8,200 education and care places now offered to families in the ACT. This contrasts with the stagnation, and indeed in some cases the reduction, under the previous Liberal government. However, we are very aware that more work needs to be done, which is why the government has committed to continuing the programs and policies that have grown the number of places and will continue to extend these programs.
We have committed to extend for three years the scholarships for cert III in children’s services to support the workforce in that sector to get the skills they require for high quality child care. This policy will provide for a further 90 students to gain the necessary qualifications. We are also committed to scholarships for early education teachers.
We have committed a further two years funding for the ACT education and care capital upgrades; indeed, the $9 million we have already invested is continuing to progress. This investment not only increases the number of places in the program but also helps centres refurbish to modern standards. A further 116 places are expected to be created in government-owned facilities during 2013-14, with additional places being created in Campbell, Narrabundah, Greenway, Fyshwick and Forrest.
These projects are in various stages of design. For example, Campbell cottage is under construction and will be completed in a year. Extensions and upgrades to Narrabundah cottage and Fyshwick early childhood care are progressing under developmental approval. Capital upgrades at the Greenway Child Care and Education Centre and the Forrest Early Childhood Centre are in the final design phase. Two new family day care services have recently been approved to commence operation in the ACT and the number of places offered by family day care services is not restricted and is dependent on the number of educators employed to reflect the demand of families.
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