The Rudd Government today welcomed commencing early childhood teaching students and re-affirmed their commitment to create additional university places for early childhood teachers.

The Rudd Government has created 500 new places in 2009 and this will rise to 1500 places by 2011.

Australia has more than 100 000 people working in early childhood education and child care. They are at the frontline of our children’s development and wellbeing. However, there are ongoing shortages of child care workers and, in some regions, preschool teachers.

In response, the Rudd Government is investing $126.6 million over four years to train and retain a high-quality early childhood education and child care workforce.

Specifically, the Government has committed:

• $53.9 million to create the 500 additional university places for early childhood teachers this year, rising to 1500 places by 2011.
• $12.4 million to reduce by around half the HECS-HELP debt of early childhood teachers who work in regional and remote areas, Indigenous communities and areas of high disadvantage.
• $60.3 million to support around 8000 people gain a child care diploma or advanced diploma by 2013 by removing the regulated TAFE fees for these courses.

In addition to our workforce initiatives, the Government has committed to a range of measures to give families better access to high-quality, nationally consistent early childhood education and child care.

These initiatives include:

• $1.6 billion over four years to help working families meet higher costs of living by increasing the Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) for out of pocket expenses from 30 per cent to 50 per cent (a maximum of $7,500 per child). The rebate can be paid quarterly or annually and is not means tested. 
• $970 million over five years to provide all Australian children with access to 15 hours a week of early learning programs for 40 weeks a year in the year before formal schooling.
• $292.6 million over six years on 35 Children and Family Centres that will provide a dynamic mix of services that are responsive to community needs, and include child care, early learning and parent and family support services.

For more information about the Australian Government’s early childhood reform agenda visit www.mychild.gov.au or call 13 36 84.