The Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care

In May 2023, The Salvation Army provided a written submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care.

The submission was informed by our previous submission to the DSS Engage Early Years Strategy, and consultation with our frontline services including Communities for Children, Balga Corps, Housing and Homelessness stream, Family and Domestic Violence stream, and Employment Plus.

We advocate that first and foremost the Inquiry should reflect the experiences of children and families across Australia and should focus on addressing the structural elements that contribute to inequities and poor-quality service delivery in early childhood education and care (ECEC). Many of our recommendations come down to the need to keep families and children at the centre, and to create an ECEC sector that is equitable and accessible, particularly for children and families experiencing disadvantage or forms of vulnerability. This submission covers:

Addressing challenges and barriers faced by children and families in accessing ECEC. We urge the need for ECEC to be affordable, available and flexible, and provide recommendations to ensure inclusivity of families facing additional barriers to engagement. This included families experiencing poverty, families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, children living with a disability, and children with an experience of family and domestic violence.
The importance of integrated service delivery. We urge the need for ECEC services to be integrated, holistic, localised and place-based to ensure optimal outcomes for all children.
The need for alternative learning models to drive inclusivity across the sector.
The relationship between quality and accessible ECEC and women’s workforce participation, particularly regarding disincentives to workforce participation. We urge the need for a pay rise to female-dominated sectors and expanded tax concessions.
Funding the not-for-profit sector who are providing services to a large proportion of children and families experiencing disadvantage or vulnerability.
Investing in the ECEC services and workforce in a way that enhances quality across the sector. We urge the need for a wage increase for ECEC workforce staff