Early Childhood, Education and Care
ICPA seeks to ensure that an appropriate and affordable range of early childhood programs and child care be available to support children and families who live in rural and remote areas. This includes the provision of recognised early childhood distance education programs where there is no reasonable access to an education centre and flexible child care appropriate to families’ needs.
The Federal ICPA team looking after this portfolio is Jane Morton (portfolio leader), Sally Sullivan and Jo Camilleri.
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Jo Camilleri |
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Early Childhood, Education and Care Portfolio Reports to Federal conference.
Click on the reports to view or download. 2019 Report - 2018 Report - 2017 Report
Follow these links to view the Motion Updates:
2018 Conference Motion Update - 2017 Conference Motion Update - 2016 Conference Motion Update
Follow this link to view the ICPA Early Childhood, Education and Care policy.
AIC Distance Education Allowance for 4-year-olds
The only means of accessing early childhood education for approximately 189 children across remote Australia is through distance education programs. While states and territories have provided such programs, families living in remote areas wishing to access these are bearing the entire costs associated with taking part in them. ICPA is working to see the AIC Distance Education allowance be extended to this cohort in order to make early childhood programs more affordable.
ECEC Position Paper April 2019
Universal Access to Early Childhood Education and National Quality Framework Updates
Universal access ensures that a quality preschool program (also referred to as kindergarten in some states) is available for all children in the year before full-time school. ICPA is seeking to ensure this occurs for all rural and remote children.
Commitment to Quality Preschool Education
Consultations and submissions will be called for shortly, as part of the Universal Access to Early Childhood Education National Partnership Review, in which ICPA (Aust) will participate.
Changes to the National Quality Framework
ACECQA also conducted a Review into the NQF in which ICPA (Aust) attended consultations and provided feedback. Further information can be found here.
The new In Home Care (IHC) model has replaced the old IHC and the Nanny Pilot Program from 2 July 2018, when the New Child Care Package came in.
A r
ecent In Home Care survey was conducted in November 2017 which showed that the new IHC model needed to be more flexible and affordable to suit our families’ needs.
In Home Care Survey November 2017
Further information on In Home Care
In Home Care Concerns November 2018
Mobile Early Childhood Services
Many of these previously Budget Based Funded (BBF) services did not fit the requirements of the New Child Care Package, however PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) worked with these services and most have continued since 2 July 2018.
Mobile Early Childhood Services such as Mobile Playgroups are eagerly seeking further funding from December 2019 at which time current funding ceases.
Working With Children Checks (WWCC)
Since the Royal Commission into Child Abuse report which investigated WWCC was released, a national working group has been established and recommendations for states and territories are yet to be agreed upon.
Second Year Working Holiday Visas
ICPA is still working to add Distance Education tutors and Child Care workers to the ‘specified work’ list for second year visas, to enable visiting overseas workers to return to rural and remote families the following year, particularly as these workers are in such short supply.
Submissions
Feedback has been provided to SkillsIQ in their updating of the Cert III for ECEC, a pre-requisite for IHC educators.
Submission to Working Holiday Visa Review Sept 2016
Submission to Senate Inquiry on the Proposed Child Care Changes Sept 2016
Submission Jobs for Families Child Care Package Jan 2016
Submission into Temporary Working Visa Program April 2015
Appendix A Discussion of Ed Issues for Reform of Federation White Paper March 2015
Future Options for ECEC Sept 2014
Submission into Child Care & Early Childhood Learning Feb 2014