Throughout the Federal Election campaign, CELA has worked intensively on behalf of small and community providers to highlight the major reforms that will solve our members’ most critical issues.
The Federal Election result is an endorsement of significant government reform in early childhood education and care, which sets children up for success and is a foundational investment in our society. It’s also clear that the re-elected Prime Minister wants to make the next phase of early childhood education and care reform a priority for this term of Parliament.
Our federal election advocacy
CELA’s advocacy to government continues to be influential and effective, highlighting the solutions that will unlock the potential of small and community providers.
During this election campaign, early childhood education and care was a key focus for major parties but with very different visions for how to improve our sector. We knew it was important to advocate for the road map that builds on hard won reforms and sets our sector up for the future.
CEO Michele Carnegie wrote to major party leaders and crossbench MPs, outlining the steps required to drive a national uplift in quality for Australia’s universal early childhood education system. Our plan builds on the major reforms achieved in the last term of Federal Parliament including professional wages for early educators and teachers, the removal of the Activity Test and the $1 billion Building Early Education Fund.
What’s next?
To take full advantage of this appetite for major reform, we will continue to deliver our ambitious and influential advocacy campaign on behalf of community and small providers.
We will write to the Prime Minister outlining our priorities for early childhood education and care reform for this term of Parliament including:
- implementing a guaranteed 30 hours of free or low cost early education and care for all children 0 – 5 years and an equivalent 3 days for school age children in outside school hours care from January 2026
- funding reform to ensure affordable early education and care for all families, regardless of where they live
- growing small and community services to meet the needs of all children and families
- setting children up for lifelong success by funding inclusion support services that reflect what’s actually needed by children and families
- a professionally paid qualified workforce to deliver universal education and care.
We will also continue to work with MPs and Senators across the Parliament to build momentum for our plan and solve our members’ issues.
What this means for our members
CELA continues to lead the way, advocating for a sector that is ready for the future with universal access, professional wages and expanded community services. We are focused on achieving the next phase of universal early childhood education and care reforms in this term of Parliament.
Our approach recognises the central role that community and small providers will play in delivering this for Australian families. We will continue to highlight the value of community and small early education services across Parliament, advocating for the reforms that are essential to grow our sector.
About CELA
Community Early Learning Australia is a not for profit organisation with a focus on amplifying the value of early learning for every child across Australia - representing our members and uniting our sector as a force for quality education and care.