Greens plant seeds for free early learning

GREENS senator Stephanie Hodgins-May has announced the party’s new early childhood education policy during a visit to a Northern Rivers preschool.

The spokesperson for early childhood education and care attended Byron Bay Preschool Coogera at Suffolk Park to speak with educators and families about local access and affordability issues.

She was accompanied by Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan and NSW Greens MP for Ballina and NSW early education spokesperson Tamara Smith.

The Greens policy outlines a plan for free, universal, high-quality early learning for every child in Australia, including a dedicated fund to address “childcare deserts” like the Northern Rivers.

“Like many regional parts of Australia, the Northern Rivers is facing an early learning crisis,” Senator Hodgins-May said.

“There are only 0.6 places per child available for childcare, and just 0.3 places for long day care. That means families are stuck on waitlists and kids are missing out.”

Hodgins-May said access to high quality early childhood education is strongly associated with better educational and social outcomes later in life.

She said the policy would help support families — especially women — to make decisions about returning to work and pursuing a career, and ease pressure on households during the cost-of-living crisis, especially those on single incomes or experiencing financial stress.

Byron Bay Preschools director Bridget Isichei said the policy was greatly needed.

“It’s a crisis every year,” she said. “When we do our enrolments, it actually causes us anxiety because we know that there’s people on our wait list that have been there for many years that won’t get a spot.

“This year, we’ve had 80 families miss out on a place.

“A lot of the coast is growing so rapidly, but there hasn’t been any planning for community preschool to actually expand with the community. We have been trying to do that, but the lack of funding makes it impossible.”