THE HON DR ANNE ALY MP

Minister for Early Childhood Education

Minister for Youth

The Albanese Government is ensuring young Australians have a say on the issues that matter to them, with the establishment of the Youth Steering Committee.

Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly said the Committee will drive the development of a new Youth Engagement Model, creating meaningful opportunities for young Australians to have a say on Australian Government policies and programs.

Dr Aly said the Committee will ensure the Engagement Model is developed for youth by youth.

“The Committee members bring a diverse range of life experiences to their roles, ensuring young people from all backgrounds have their voices heard on a wide range of issues,” said Dr Aly.

“Young Australians are uniquely placed to tell us about the problems they are facing and to shape solutions that actually work for them.

“Young people make up more than 15 per cent of our population, it’s important we don’t paint them with one brush of being young or disengaged or only caring about one issue.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the committee, learning about their stories, and hearing their ideas for Australia.

“A government that not only works for young people but also with them, will be far more effective – delivering a better future for all of us.”

The Committee is made up of 15 young people from across Australia, including from regional, rural and remote areas. The application process targeted young people from a range of backgrounds and with different experiences.

The National Children’s Education and Care Workforce Strategy Implementation and Evaluation Plan has been released today, setting out a path to building a sustainable, high-quality, professionally recognised workforce, while recognising current pressures on the sector.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today welcomed the release of the plan for the 10-year Shaping Our Future national strategy, which has been agreed to by all Education and Early Childhood Education Ministers.

The plan was developed by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) in partnership with sector peak bodies and all state and territory governments.

“We’ve been listening to early childhood education providers, peak bodies, unions and educators on the actions needed to address workforce shortages,” Minister Aly said.

“The strategy recognises that no one government, nor the sector itself, can fix the workforce shortage pressures alone – lasting solutions require a coordinated collaborative approach.

“The Implementation Plan outlines 21 practical actions to support the attraction, retention, quality and sustainability of the workforce in the long term.

“A supported and thriving early childhood education workforce is critical to being able to deliver the Albanese Government’s landmark reform of making early childhood education cheaper and more accessible for families right across Australia.”

The critical importance of the early childhood education and care sector was recognised at both the National Cabinet meeting on 31 August 2022 and at the Albanese Government’s recent Jobs and Skills Summit.

At National Cabinet, Education and Early Childhood Ministers were tasked to develop a long-term vision and collaborate on opportunities to support better outcomes across the system, with a particular focus on the early childhood education and care workforce.

Also being launched today is ACECQA’s Induction to the National Quality Framework, designed to improve access to professional development for early childhood educators and teachers.

Minister Aly said the release of the framework compliments the investment the Albanese Government is making in skills and higher education.

“The framework is an important step forward in addressing this long-standing and persistent issues impacting the early childhood education and care workforce,” Minister Aly said.

“We’re continuing to prioritise initiatives that support the attraction and retention of a high quality and sustainable early childhood workforce.”

Shaping our Future and the Implementation and Evaluation Plan are available on the ACECQA website: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/national-workforce-strategy