Advocacy group The Parenthood are happy to see a senate inquiry into the safety and quality of early childhood education. The Greens established the inquiry yesterday, which will look into some of the recent controversies and breaches in safety (horrendous breaches at that) while also looking at the quality of the curriculum and care being offered.

Georgie Dent of the Parenthood said investment and innovation had not kept pace with the growth of the sector and that it was important to get right:

That gap has led to some shocking failures that have shaken parents’ trust. We cannot allow safety and quality to be left behind while the system grows.”

Right now, there are workforce shortages, childcare deserts in regional, rural and remote communities, and a funding model that simply isn’t fit-for-purpose. Parents are struggling to access the care they need — and children are missing out.”

Early childhood education and care is not a ‘nice to have’. It’s an essential service that delivers enormous benefits.”

“For children, high-quality early learning is life-changing. It sets them up for school, boosts their long-term education outcomes, and reduces their risk of unemployment or contact with the justice system. It’s one of the smartest investments we can make.”