A new report from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute Unequal from the Start provides compelling evidence that the so-called "achievement gap"—the persistent disparity in educational outcomes linked to socioeconomic background—emerges as early as two to three years of age.
The Front Project welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement to improve safety and quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC). This includes leveraging significant investment in the sector to improve quality and penalising providers who consistently fail to meet minimum standards.
The 4 Corners episode “Betrayal of Trust: Australia’s Childcare Crisis” highlights gaping holes in Commonwealth/state responsibility which bad faith operators drive straight through.
Every child has the right not just to be safe, but to thrive at an early learning service.
The Front Project believes all children have the right to access life-long benefits of quality early learning. We know that many children continue to miss out due to life circumstances, parent or carer work status, geographic location and systemic barriers to access and participation.
Today is a significant day for children in Australia. For a long time we have known that high-quality education and care (ECEC) helps shift the dial on addressing childhood disadvantage, and today we see that recognised and celebrated.
The Front Project and Deloitte Access Economics’ policy explainer “The NQF Works! Implications of AERO's study linking quality and child development” highlights the essential role of quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) in shaping children’s developmental outcomes.
The Front Project commissioned Mandala to explore the impact of policy settings on Long Day Care (LDC) market composition over the past 10 years.
In our last article, we looked at the players driving innovation in early childhood settings, their roles and responsibilities, and what strategies and tools there are to help cultivate a culture of innovation. What did we find? Innovation is for everyone!
The Front Project welcomes the Productivity Commission’s final report on its inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Australia. We welcome the report's vision of a future where every child, regardless of their background, has access to high quality early learning.
In our last article, we looked at the players driving innovation in early childhood settings, their roles and responsibilities, and what strategies and tools there are to help cultivate a culture of innovation.
In our last article, we explored what innovation looks like currently across the country. From STEM programs to tech-based tools, each innovation example illustrated the key ingredients for success.
Innovation. It’s a word we hear all the time, but what does it really mean when it comes to early years education, care, and development? What does it look like and why does it matter? If you find yourself asking these questions, then you’re not alone.
A Gourmet Guide to Early Years Innovation Feast your eyes on our exciting new series, Food for Thought: Innovation in the Early Years Landscape!
The Front Project celebrates the historic 15% wage increase for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals, announced by the Federal Government.
Dr Caroline Croser-Barlow has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of leading early learning organisation the Front Project (TFP).
The Front Project welcomes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) final report signalling important changes needed to ensure the early learning system meets the needs of all children, families and communities in Australia.
In their pre-budget submission, leading early childhood education and care (ECEC) organisation, the Front Project, has a vision that a high quality universal ECEC system becomes a reality in Australia.
As the new year unfurls, children eagerly embrace fresh beginnings, returning to their early learning centres with anticipation, while teachers gear up for the challenges and opportunities that the year holds. Amidst all this activity, we thought we would share some of the conversations with educators and teachers in early learning.
For the final Apiary Convening of 2023, the Fellows came together in Cronulla on Dharawal land, where they were able to reflect on the year that was while looking at 2024, and everything it has to offer.
by Jane Hunt
When we talk about the cost-of-living crisis, we typically talk milk, bread and petrol. But what’s causing much more pain in countless Australian households right now is childcare.
After seven highly productive years, the Front Project’s founding CEO Jane Hunt is stepping down from her role as CEO to embark on a new challenge.
Families in Australia agree that we have a collective responsibility to ensure all young children receive quality care and education, but finding suitable childcare is expensive and sometimes impossible, according to the Front Project’s new flagship research.
The Front Project welcomes the release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report into Early Childhood Education and Care which charts a clear path for achieving universal access to ECEC for all children in Australia.
Every year, Early Childhood Educators' Day puts a spotlight on the incredible commitment of Australia's early learning educators. They play a crucial role in shaping children's well-being, creating a strong academic foundation, and supporting developmental milestones in those important early years. It's a celebration; AND it's a heartfelt 'thank you'.
Skilled professionals eager to transform early learning are invited to join an innovative fellowship of system changemakers.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)’s second interim report makes clear more action is needed to address high childcare fees. This is critical as it greatly impacts those children who stand to benefit the most - those experiencing disadvantage.
The Front Project welcomes the Minns government’s budget commitment to maintain the $5.7 billion dollars in funding over 10 years for universal preschool access and its boost to the state’s early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
Leading early childhood education and care (ECEC) organisation, The Front Project, welcomes the government's statement that ‘Every child deserves the opportunity for the best start to life, setting a strong foundation to achieve their goals and dreams, no matter where they are born or raised.’
Read the Front Project fact sheet on the Federal Budget 2023-24. The fact sheet breaks down key budget annoncements for the early years system in Australia.
The Front Project has welcomed the 2023 Federal Budget measures to support the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, but said more needs to be done to support vulnerable children and families.
Leading early childhood education and care organisation, The Front Project, has congratulated the the New South Wales Labor Leader Chris Minns on his election victory and encouraged his new government to continue with the ECEC reform agenda in NSW.
Read the Front Project fact sheet on the changes to Paid Parental Leave (PPL), the new legislation is designed to give more families access to the payment, gives parents increased flexibility in how they take leave and encourages parents to share care to promote gender equality.
Read the Front Project fact sheet on the changes to Paid Parental Leave (PPL), the new legislation is designed to give more families access to the payment, gives parents increased flexibility in how they take leave and encourages parents to share care to promote gender equality.
Leading early childhood education and care (ECEC) organisation, The Front Project, has welcomed the Albanese Government’s commitment to the Early Years after the successful National Early Years Summit held in Canberra last week.
For a generation of Australians, Gough Whitlam’s decision to abolish tuition fees for students at universities and technical colleges was life changing. It unleased the potential of a group of Australians who, for too long, had been shut out of tertiary opportunities.
Early learning professionals are encouraged to apply for the sector’s foremost system change initiative, the Apiary, joins together people who are committed to creating thriving futures for children in Australia.
2022 was a huge year for the early childhood education and care (ECEC) system, not only for the Front Project, but for the amazing teachers, educators and sector professionals who continue to provide Australian children with the opportunity to engage with quality early learning during the earliest stages of their development.
A unique program designed to support early educators has achieved student retention rates more than five times higher than the national course completion rate for early childhood undergraduate teaching degrees.
Leading early childhood education and care organisation, The Front Project, has congratulated the Andrews Government on its re-election and noted that the government can now continue its landmark early childhood reforms.
Read the Front Project fact sheet on the changes to the Child Care Subsidy (CCS), the new legislation is designed to make early childhood educationand care (ECEC) more affordable for 96 per cent of families currently using child care, with no families being worse off.
From workforce shortages, to maintaining quality and barriers to access, the early childhood education sector (ECEC) faces a range of complex challenges that mean it is unable to meet the needs of many children and families around Australia.
Australian families weighing up household spending might consider the cost of early childhood education and care (ECEC) is not worth it.
Leading early childhood education and care (ECEC) organisation, The Front Project has welcomed the passing of legislation into the Australian Parliament to lift the Child Care Subsidy (CCS).
The Front Project, with The Apiary Fellowship, are bringing the voices of children and families to the centre of conversations about the future of early learning. From October for several months, we will be facilitating a series of conversations with children, families and communities across Australia to enable their contribution to dialogue on transformative visions for children’s early years futures.
The roots of Australia's ECEC system can be traced back to preschools established to educate children experiencing poverty during the depression of the 1890s.
‘The Apiary is a collective of leaders invested in creating a better future for children and families. We want to hear and amplify voices from the system on what the future of early learning in Australia should look and feel like.’
When the Front Project started 5 years ago, the advocacy intent was to influence the community, business and Government to support and implement 2 years of early learning in the years prior to school. We felt this was one way of tackling the level of developmental vulnerability and disadvantage children experience in Australia.
A five-year research project to evaluate three-year-old kindergarten in Victoria was officially launched by Minister for Early Childhood Ingrid Stitt at Dulap Wilim Pre-school in Sunbury today.
The Early Childhood and Education Care (ECEC) sector is set to undergo major changes given the recent announcements by the Victorian and New South Wales governments.
Early childhood workers will be supported to upskill and become kindergarten teachers, thanks to an innovative new partnership between the Andrews Labor Government and the Front Project.
The percentage of children experiencing developmental vulnerability before they start school is significantly higher in remote and outer regional areas than in cities, according to new analysis of the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data released by The Front Project today.
The Front Project is excited to announce we are working with the Victorian Department of Education and Training and the Australian Catholic University to offer this exceptional opportunity for diploma qualified educators to become Early Childhood Teachers.
‘The Apiary’s promise is to walk with you as we lead, innovate, and shape the ECEC system, with your needs and future at its centre.’
But data collected by the Australian government tells us that around 60,000 children are assessed as developmentally vulnerable when they start school every year.
For many, 2021 has been a year of unmet expectations. We planned as if lockdowns and border closures were behind us and we would recommence our close connections with all who play a role in our work. Hindsight reveals that this was indeed optimistic thinking.
Philanthropy backs Australian-first study of Three-Year-Old Kinder with $5.7 million Australia’s largest philanthropic foundation will spend $5.7 million to undertake a landmark evaluation of the state-wide roll-out of Three-Year-Old Kindergarten in Victoria.
The Front Project is calling on the Australian Government to use the upcoming Budget to make sure no child misses out on the benefits of early education and care (ECEC) by addressing the barriers to access currently faced by children living in disadvantaged circumstances.
The Front Project CEO Jane Hunt says measures to ease the financial burden on families for early childhood education and care (ECEC), enhanced paid parental leave, and further investment to establish additional ECEC services in remote, rural and regional areas announced in the Federal budget, are most welcome.
A new Online Community will see some of the hardest working “unsung heroes” throughout the pandemic get the support they need to continue supporting others.
I am pleased to announce that the Front Project has launched a new Online Community for anyone working with children and their families in early learning across.
I am pleased to share with you our latest research report, Work and play: Understanding how Australian families experience early childhood education and care.
Australian families are at the centre of our early childhood education and care (ECEC) system.
One of biggest opportunities we have to get parents into jobs and give young children the best start to life is to improve the way Australian families experience our early learning system.
The Australian Government’s announcement of new funding for early childhood education and care (ECEC) is an important win for all Australians.
Who had money on early childhood education and care (ECEC) creating the biggest pre-Budget buzz this year?
The latest Budget commitment marks an important step in building a high-quality early childhood education and care (ECEC) system that delivers benefits to all children and their families.
Our early learning system is poised to improve the lives of every Australian during this year of recovery.
Despite latest claims by some loud voices, our early childhood education and care (ECEC) system is remarkably robust, with a story of constant improvement and unlimited potential to deliver for families and our broader economy.
Last week The Front Project team reflected on the year that we are about to leave behind and – this may be surprising to some – we agreed that despite the challenges, 2020 delivered a lot to celebrate for early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Australia.
The gaps in our society have been widened by COVID-19 and early childhood education can help bridge them.
Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is key to addressing one of the largest increases in disadvantage that Australian families have ever faced.
The reason why early childhood education and care (ECEC) is one of the hottest topics from this week’s Federal Budget and Budget Reply speeches is because it impacts every Australian.
In April this year, Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Minister for Education Dan Tehan announced an Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Relief Package to help families through what many hoped at that time would be a short-lived period of financial instability.
I am pleased to share our latest resource aimed at improving wellbeing for children and their families by optimising the child care subsidy (CCS).
Optimising the current Child Care Subsidy (CCS) will improve affordability for families, get parents back into the workforce and significantly boost the nation’s GDP.
This year we have stayed home and learned what matters most to us and what we cannot live without. It has become clear that one of these things is our early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector.
We have now published findings from our survey of teachers and educators during COVID-19 in our new paper 'Early Learning and COVID-19 - Experiences of Teachers and Educators at the Start of the Pandemic'.
Our recent webinar 'The Future Is Bright: Leaders Collaborating To Transform Early Learning' saw our CEO Jane Hunt, Kerry Graham of Collaboration for Impact, Associate Professor Cathrine Neilsen-Hewett of UOW Early Start, and Dr Fiona McKenzie of Orange Compass engage in a discussion on how a systems based approach and innovative thinking can enhance the experiences of children, families and teachers and educators, particularly in the pandemic.
This week we released findings from a survey of over 1000 parents and carers of young children who shared their experiences with early childhood education and care (ECEC) during COVID-19.
New data reveals that early childhood education and care (ECEC) is having an enormous impact on Australian families during COVID-19.
Over the past week we have released two major pieces of work as part of our renewed focus to support the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector through COVID-19:
The critical role of early childhood education in supporting young children‘s learning and development and supporting families to work has never been more evident than during the response to COVID-19.
Following the government’s recent emergency early learning funding announcement, The Front Project CEO, Jane Hunt, and Research Manager, Dr Stacey Fox, explain how the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the importance of early childhood education to the economy and exposed systemic problems with Australia’s policy approach.
A message on important lessons about early childhood education from our CEO, Jane Hunt.
The industries that all Australians are relying on during the COVID-19 pandemic can only operate at their best with support from early childhood education services.
Families, business and government all benefit.
Early education builds the skills that support national prosperity.
Evidence-based early intervention can radically change outcomes for Australian children and young people. Download media release.
The first comprehensive Australian analysis of the economic impact of early childhood education. Download media release.