Earlier this month, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released a report which shows that Australia spends less on early childhood education than any other nation in the industrialised world.

 

The results of the report, Starting Strong II, prompted calls from both sides of federal politics for a national approach to childcare and early childhood education.

 

“What we have at the moment is a dog’s breakfast. We have inconsistencies in access to preschool education from state to state, and we have different requirements for childcare services from state to state. The quality and the nature of early education that young children are getting is too variable, and too many children are not getting access to a good quality early childhood education at all,” says Fran Press, Charles Sturt University (CSU) senior lecturer in early childhood education.

 

Ms Press is the author of What about the kids? Policy directions for improving the experiences of infants and young children in a changing world. The policy paper, prepared for the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, the Queensland Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, and the National Investment for the Early Years (NIFTeY) was released in July.

 

At the moment, local, state and federal governments all have have some responsibilities in the childcare area, although the situation varies significantly from state to state.

 

“In some state and territories early childhood comes under Health or Community Services, in other states it comes under Education, in some states – such as NSW – it comes under both. We need to seriously consider the question of what young children need and make a commitment to building an integrated and well resourced ealry childhood system. They are doing some very innovative things in South Australia where there is a commitment to an early childhood philosophy within the education portfolio.

 

“In the ACT they are really trying to bring together all portfolios of government in creating a community that is much more responsive to children.

 

“A lot of northern European countries have a good approach because they have extensive parental leave and extensive provision of preschool settings. New Zealand is making sure that no matter where children are they have access to highly and appropriately trained staff. We could learn some lessons.”

 

The OECD report also found Australia's childcare workers are among the lowest-paid and most poorly-trained of the nations studied, and that just 57 per cent of staff working in private kindergartens hold a teaching degree, while only a quarter of all family daycare workers are formally qualified in childcare.

 

“I think a key question that comes out the OECD review is that childcare and early childhood education actually needs more money, it is not just about cooperation and coordination, it is about investing a whole lot more money than we currently do. I think Australia’s current poor standing is a pretty sad state of affairs.”