ACA National
ACA calls upon Australian Government to throw the child care
(early learning) sector an urgent lifeline
Australia's peak body for child care (early learning) services applauds the Prime Minister's acknowledgement of the importance of the early learning sector and the essential role it plays in keeping the economy running.
Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA), President Paul Mondo, said the 845,000 families relying on Australia's early learning services would agree wholeheartedly that the sector is vital in allowing them to participate in the workforce.
"Whilst many families have felt the need to withdraw their children, due to either financial reasons or health advice, Australian families want their children to be able to return to their existing childcare (early learning) services, once we get to the other side of this enormous crisis." Mr Mondo explained.
"While early learning services nurture the students of tomorrow, we are also the lynchpin of Australia's economy," Mr Mondo said. "It was a relief to finally hear the Prime Minister today acknowledge long day care and early learning services as 'fundamental' to helping Australia get to the 'other side' of this crippling pandemic."
"But right now, our families, our educators and our providers are being smashed by the economic fallout from this virus and the fear, confusion and unemployment it has brought about at a rapid speed," Mr Mondo said. "As is stands, there is no funding certainty and without that, no future for our sector."
Mr Mondo said that ACA's 2,500+ member centres are now desperately struggling to keep their doors open, as a result of the sudden decrease in enrolments.
"Our families, educators and the service providers need the Prime Minister's words to translate into rock solid support and we need it now.
We have mapped out a way to keep our centres open, to continue caring for children in a safe environment, particularly for children with parents on the healthcare front line and other essential workers, along with disadvantaged and vulnerable children who greatly benefit from early learning" Mr Mondo said.
"We are deeply concerned that if funding certainty is not delivered urgently to these services, the sector simply cannot continue supporting these families through this crisis. To make matters worse, many of our vital early learning (child care) centres will not survive the coming weeks in order to support the economy on the other side of this health crisis, with further withdrawals daily."
ACA has presented a suite of measures to the Government that, if adopted now, would immediately ease the financial burden of families, keep educators in jobs and protect centres from permanent closure.
We understand all of Australia is struggling at this challenging time but without quality early learning or child care, it's going to be extremely difficult for Australia to bounce back from these economic dark days." Mr Mondo said.
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