A nation that protects its children protects its future – ACA launches election campaign

Advocacy body the Australian Childcare Alliance (ACA) has launched a pre-election campaign calling on both major parties to commit to policies that will deliver high-quality early childhood education for all Australian children should they form government following the 3 May 2025 Federal Election.

The campaign aims to ensure that every child in every community receives the high-quality early education and the specialised support they deserve, with ACA President Paul Mondo outlining ACA’s vision as being “a nation that protects its children protects its future”.

The ACA’s election manifesto centres on four themes:

• Child safety and child safe systems
• A greater focus on supporting children with additional needs
• Increasing our workforce to meet demand
• Ensuring affordability measures prioritise those that need it most.

“This manifesto is entrenched in equity – to ensure every child, regardless of background, location, family income or individual needs, has access to high-quality early childhood education and care tailored to their specific circumstances,” Mr Mondo said.

“This is particularly important for children with additional needs,” he continued. 

“If we are trying to create a truly universal system, then the inclusion support mechanism, which is nearly decade old and completely underfunded, needs to change.” 

He went on to reference the changes and uncertainty the sector has experienced over the past two years, terming the election “an opportunity for major parties to commit to policies that will create meaningful change.”

“Our policy recommendations aim to deliver quality early education to every child—particularly those who need it most. We are cognisant of equity, and in a climate where spending needs to be prioritised —it should go where it is needed most.”

To support its position the ACA has developed policies that detail how change can be achieved, from a national recruitment campaign to attract staff to the sector, to ensuring equitable access to early education by raising the subsidy rate to 100 per cent for families earning up to $80,000.

The campaign addresses an entrenched gap in funding for children with additional needs by increasing the minimum number of additional educator hours from five to eight hours a day and backing reforms to ensure child safety.

To learn more about the work of the ACA, including in the advocacy space, please visit the ACA website, here.