Report prompts states and territories to call for permanent funding

A new report, endorsed by all the states and territories, calls on the Australian Government to provide permanent stable funding for the early childhood years.

Lifting Our Game, is the final report of a national education review on early childhood services – and strongly supports continued investment in the early years to ensure Australian kids do better at school and later in life.

According to the report, short-term funding schemes create uncertainty in the industry and prevent long term planning. In addition, the report claims that investing in early childhood education pays off in the long run – with a return of $2 to $4 for every dollar invested.

The report also finds that while the benefits of investing in the early years are widely accepted internationally, Australia fails to invest early and pays for it later.

The report confirms Australia invests only a third of the OECD average in pre-primary education – ranking 24th out of 26 nations – and claims that the single most impactful reform Australia could take is expanding access to quality early childhood education, such as preschool, to all three-year-olds.

In addition to the financial benefits the report shows that children who participate in high quality early childhood education enjoy better results at school, are less likely to need additional support and are more likely to complete Year 12. Attendance at preschool is also linked to better health and employment prospects, especially among vulnerable and disadvantaged children.

"This report confirms what we've known for a long time – that investing in the early years is the greatest public return on education investment we can make," said Victorian Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos.

The independent review – Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools through Early Childhood Interventions – was commissioned by state and territory governments and was led by Susan Pascoe AM and Professor Deborah Brennan, who were asked to consider and make recommendations on the most effective interventions in early childhood, with a focus on school readiness, improving achievement in schools and future success in employment or further education.