UnitingCare Australia welcomes National Agenda for Early Childhood

24 September 2002

From: UnitingCare Australia

“Children are vulnerable members of our communities who need to be nurtured and protected” said Lin Hatfield Dodds of the proposed development of a National Agenda for Early Childhood. “Positive early childhood experiences provide critical building blocks to adult wellbeing and participation in society.”

“A National Agenda for Early Childhood that recognises the value of children for their own sake, as well as the societal value of directing resources to this critical life stage is a welcome initiative.”

“UnitingCare Australia commends the Government’s response to the Child Care Beyond 2001 Report as part of its commitment to children’s early learning and care.”

“The Minister’s initial response to the Report, outlining the importance of the status and standing child care professionals and calling for the development of a consistent national approach to workforces issues, has hit the target in terms of the real issues.”

“The Minister’s plan to examine current funding arrangements for child care services and support services other than Child Care Benefit (known as the Child Care Support Broadband) is timely, given the current freeze on funding to support children with additional needs in child care centres through the Special Needs Subsidy Scheme, and the need to ensure the future of viable community non profit centres.”

“We look forward to working with the Government to develop initiatives that address the hard issues facing child care within the broader picture of the value of children and their early learning and care” Ms Hatfield Dodds concluded.

Contacts:
Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director, UnitingCare Australia m: 0408 402 222
Jennifer Evans, Director, Childrens’ Services Forum, UnitingCare NSW.ACT m: 0417 478 117

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