Federal Government answers CELA’s call to action
In December 2024, the Prime Minister announced an ambitious plan for universal early childhood education and care that recognises the central role that community-managed not-for-profit services will play in delivering this for Australian families.
The Federal Government has listened to CELA, putting quality universal access, quality education and community-managed services at the heart of Australia’s 21st-century education and care system.
CELA has worked intensively with decision-makers to ensure this historic commitment happened in this term of Federal Parliament.

We are pleased the Federal Government has adopted many of our key reforms including:
-delivering three days guaranteed early education and care for all children
-changing the activity test to ensure children who will benefit most can access education and care
-growing community-managed not-for-profit services to ensure all children can access quality early education, particularly in areas of undersupply
-creating a sustainable early education workforce through professional wages
-research into the cost of delivering high-quality early childhood education and care.
The $1 billion Building Early Education Fund will be a huge boost for the community sector. We have been working with so many communities that have been crying out for the infrastructure investment that today’s announcement delivers. This is the foundation to unlock the potential of early childhood education for children, families, and our broader communities.
It’s clear that the Federal Government values high-quality community and small early education and care services. This is the missing link that will enable towns across Australia to build the social infrastructure they need to deliver early education and care for their community.