ACT second state to sign onto 2019 Universal Access agreement

The Federal Government will provide $18.3 million throughout 2018 and 2019 to the ACT to provide 600 hours of quality preschool in 2019, following the territory government becoming the second jurisdiction to sign onto the National Partnership Agreement to Universal Access to Early Childhood Education.

Federal Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the agreement would benefit around 7,000 children in Canberra.

“Since 2013, our Government has made $49.8 million available to families in the ACT for preschool,” Mr Tehan said.

“Across Australia, around $870 million is being provided to ensure almost 350,000 children have access to 15 hours of quality early learning each week.

“Our Government is supporting Australian families to work and get their children the best start in education through our child care subsidy (CCS) and funding for preschools.

“We understand funding certainty is important for families, governments and the sector as a whole. There is nothing stopping other state and territory governments from following suit and signing on to the National Partnership extension for 2019,” he said.

“I would like to thank the ACT Government for its commitment to children in the ACT.”

The Victorian Government signed up to the Universal Access agreement shortly before moving into caretaker mode ahead of its state government election.