29 August 2023
Physicians from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) say all states and territories should follow in South Australia’s footsteps and commit to universal early learning for three-year-old children.
RACP President and Paediatrician Dr Jacqueline Small says “The evidence is clear that expanding access to quality early education for three-year-old children has a profoundly positive impact on their social and cognitive development.
“We’d like to see all states and territories implementing universal access to quality early childhood education programs for all three-year-olds.
“We welcome the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care in South Australia – and it’s something that all other jurisdictions should be looking to learn from.
“The RACP’s Kids Catch-Up Campaign has clearly defined priorities to help our youngest generation of children catch up in all areas of their health, learning and development.
“Guaranteeing access to quality early childhood education today means seeing our children succeed in school and experience improved outcomes in literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional wellbeing throughout their lives.
“Expanding access to early learning is so important for so many reasons, the biggest one being the incredibly positive impact it has on a child’s development and their future potential.”
“The RACP is looking forward to engaging with the Productivity Commission further on this key issue following the release of its draft report later this year”.
The RACP’s submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) can be found here: https://www.racp.edu.au/docs/default-source/advocacy-library/racp-submission-to-the-productivity-commission-early-childhood-education-and-care.pdf?sfvrsn=b4fdd21a_4
The RACP recommendations were:
1. The Australian Government ensures that flexible, high-quality, accessible and affordable early childhood education and care, that suit families and workplaces, is available across the country.
2. Implement universal access to quality early childhood education programs for all 3-year-old children.
3. Increase Commonwealth funding for school students with additional needs, including children with disability and/or learning difficulties.
4. Fund and implement targeted early childhood education and care wellbeing programs under the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing strategy.
5. Develop and fund national early language and literacy interventions in collaboration with early childhood education and care experts.
6. Establish an Inequities in Child Health Research Alliance, in conjunction with leading Australian universities, non-governmental organisations or health services.
7. Continue to fund the early childhood education and care support system to assist families with the cost and to ensure that lower income families will not be disadvantaged, such as through the Child Care Subsidy programme
The Kids Catch Up campaign is run by the RACP to improve the health of children and young people. You can join the campaign at kidscatchup.org.au.