Children in region to benefit from Universal Access

MARCH 9, 2016: An estimated 2000 children in the region will benefit from the Turnbull Government’s National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education.$840 million in federal funding will be available for quality preschool programmes across the country, and these benefits will be felt across the electorate.The National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education guarantees funding for 600 hours of quality preschool in the year before school, and includes a focus on lifting participation rates for children from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds in the region.All states and territories including Queensland have signed up to the National Partnership Agreement, which is extremely encouraging and means that the funding will flow to local preschools.This funding will help approximately 2000 preschool children aged between four and five who are enrolled at local preschools get the best start in life.Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said that the National Partnership funding was just one aspect of the Turnbull Government’s commitment to early childhood education.As well as the $840 million for the National Partnership Agreement, the Turnbull Government has committed to reforms worth $40 billion for early childhood education and care over the next four years, including more than $3 billion to ensure the system is more accessible, affordable and fairer for families.The funding is the single largest investment in early learning and child care that this country has ever seen, and guarantees support for 15 hours of quality preschool education a week for children in the year before school,” Minister Birmingham said.For more information visit: www.education.gov.au/universal-access-early-childhood-education.