Community Child Care Association and Early Learning Association of Australia confirm exploration of potential merger

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) peak bodies, the Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Early Learning Association of Australia (ELAA), have confirmed in an email to members that the two organisations are engaged in preliminary merger discussions. 

“The boards of Community Child Care Association (CCC) and Early Learning Association of Australia (ELAA) are exploring if CCC and ELAA might amalgamate into a new entity,” Linda  Davison, Chairperson of CCC said.  

However she added that “at this point, it’s essential to remember that the concept of amalgamation is only being investigated.” 

CCC, which was established in 1971, is the peak body for community owned, not-for-profit long day care and outside school hours care in Victoria, and advocates on behalf of all community owned and managed education and care services.

ELAA, which was established in 1991, is the national peak body championing excellence in early learning for children and supporting parents and service providers and includes more than 1,300 early childhood education and care (ECEC) services across governance and setting types.

Commenting on the reasons for the merger discussions Ms Davison said, “With increased demands on our workforce, extra scrutiny on services and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, a strategic and considered amalgamation would be designed, as its driving force, to provide support for the sector now and into the future.” 

“We believe that a joint entity would boost the strengths of both organisations, deliver amplified service delivery and support for our members, and provide us a single, unified voice for better advocacy and representation. ”

The process of broader communication to members commenced on Thursday 5 May and after the completion of a series of due diligence exercises scheduled for the balance of 2022 prove that the amalgamation would be feasible the final decision would be put to members for vote in 2023. 

To learn more about the CCC please click here and ELAA please click here.