Nearly 1,400 children a year living in the Rockhampton and Livingstone LGAs are set to benefit from reduced price or free kindy, thanks to a more than $1 billion investment announced by the Palaszczuk Government today.
Member for Rockhampton, Barry O'Rourke, said the kindergarten program funding overhaul was the most significant reform for the sector in more than a decade.
Over 5 years, the package includes:
- Free kindy access for 14,000 children a year
- Reduced fees for a further 26,000 children a year
- $33 million to expand Kindy Uplift from 400 to 930 services
- $38.5 million to help remote and regional services attract and retain early childhood teachers
- $95 million in support for families with children who have a disability
"We know that the first few years of child's life here in Rockhampton are incredibly important and play a major role in their future," Mr O'Rourke said.
"The Palaszczuk Government knows that kindy counts.
"That's why we are increasing our annual investment in kindy from $130 million to $211 million per year, which means more than a billion dollars will go into our kindy services over the next 5 years, with ongoing funding after that.
"Here in the Rockhampton Region, that means nearly 1,000 kids will get reduced price kindy, with more than 350 of those getting it completely free."
Member for Livingstone and Assistant Education Minister Brittany Lauga said kindy participation had grown rapidly in the state.
"I'm proud that Queensland has seen kindergarten participation grow from 29% in 2008 to 96% today," Ms Lauga said.
"This announcement means more than 400 kids living in the Livingstone Shire Council area will get reduced price kindy, and nearly 50 won't pay anything at all.
"The Palaszczuk Government wants kindy in our region to not only be world class, but accessible and affordable too.
"This is a significant change for the sector, and we'll be working closely with providers in the coming months on things like software upgrades, contracts, and consultation with families to ensure they're ready for the new program in 2023."
Mr O'Rourke said the package also includes an expansion of the Kindy Uplift program, and extra funding for children with disabilities.
"We're thrilled that this increased funding means we can more than double the number of services covered by the successful Kindy Uplift program to 930," Mr O'Rourke said.
"Kindy Uplift funding means services can invest in personalised programs so children can reach their full potential. For example, funding could be used to provide a dedicated support worker or professional development for staff.
"We will also invest more than $19 million per year to enhance support for families with children who have a disability or are developmentally vulnerable, so they can participate in either community or long day care kindies.
Ms Lauga said there would be extra support for regional and remote kindies too.
"In addition, eligible remote and regional community kindergartens and kindergartens in long day care will receive a funding boost to use on things like accommodation assistance and relocation costs to ensure they can attract and retain a qualified early childhood teacher," Ms Lauga said.
Education Minister Grace Grace said the Palaszczuk Government was proud to be investing in Queenslanders' early years.
"I am proud that this Palaszczuk Labor Government is delivering not only an increase in funding, but funding that is clearly targeted to assist those who need it the most," Ms Grace said.
"We're investing in our youngest Queenslanders, we're investing in our families, and we're investing in CQ's future."
The new kindy funding reform package is in response to the 2019 'Optimising outcomes for children: A review of early childhood education funding and arrangements in Queensland'.
There are 21 services in the electorates of Rockhampton and Keppel that are currently part of the Kindy Uplift program. An additional 18 services will be invited to join the program, as part of this announcement.
Total investment in kindy from 2023-2024 will be $307 million. This includes the investment from the Australian Government.
