Families in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales will receive support through an additional round of funding for early childhood education and care (ECEC) services as the state continues to endure the worst recorded drought in history.

The monthly release of Australian employment data by the Australian Bureau of Statistics continues to support the position that female work force participation trends are positive with particular relative growth in the full time work category.

Funding will continue for early childhood development programs and services supporting children living with a disability, aged zero to five, Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace announced yesterday, formalising a commitment made in the recently announced Budget 2019/20.

Kindergarten programs across Victoria are set to benefit from $6 million in funding under the Inclusive Kindergarten Facilities Program, designed to support more kindergartens to upgrade their playgrounds and buildings and buy new equipment to support children with additional needs.

In a statement outlining her priorities as the FairWork Ombudsman in the new financial year, Sandra Parker issued a stern and decisive warning to employers, including those within the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, who underpay workers or deprive them of entitlements, saying “we will use our new powers and publically name employers breaking the law to get the message out that it is not acceptable. Employers who do this will get caught”.