Advocacy - On the Agenda

Who we shared your views with via meetings and correspondence

The Commonwealth Government has a large policy focus on the Early Years and CELA continues to be active in influencing policy on behalf of our members.

We have:

• Lodged a submission to the consultation about the Early Years Strategy. Read it here

• Lodged a submission to the Select Senate Committee on the Cost of Living. Read it here.

• Lodged a submission to the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care. Read it here.

In addition, this week CELA CEO Michele Carnegie represented member views to the NSW Government regarding the Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund and the NSW Independent Pricing and Review Tribunal (IPART) inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care Affordability, Accessibility and Consumer Choice, ahead of our formal written submission to be lodged next week.

• meeting with the Apprenticeship and Trainee Industry Consultative Forum to highlight the risks associated with not suitably supporting trainees via an external mentoring model
• contributing to the Commonwealth Government's Early Childhood Education and Care Reference Group and
• meeting with one of our South Australian members to discuss CCCF reliance ahead of CELA's contribution to the review of the Community Child Care Fund.

How we kept you informed

• Weekly newsletter highlighted important updates for the sector
• Guided Members through operational challenges via our 1800 support line, including Sector Support for Start Strong 2023 as contracted by the NSW Department of Education
• Amplify! describes the top 10 things to communicate to volunteer management committees

Who we collaborated with

• We are working with the Commonwealth Government and other peaks ahead of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay legislation coming into effect, to ensure our members have a strong voice to negotiate a new standard in wages and conditions.
• We are assisting members to respond to community need in the provision of education and care in their local communities

What we consulted on and analysed

• The Royal Commission and Deloitte Access Economics have released a report which describes long day care and non-government preschool provision in South Australia, and compiles data sets from across different levels of government. It also draws on a broad ECEC sector survey conducted in early 2023, which sought input from non-government ECEC providers on operational issues, current services (including other supports like parenting programs) as well as provider interest and capacity to provide 3-year-old preschool. Read the Mapping long day care and non-government preschool in South Australia report (PDF, 1.5 MB)