Free kindergarten fees would benefit about 1400 children in the Keppel electorate, and I want parents and educators to join the conversation.
The Palaszczuk Government is exploring free kindy for everyone in Queensland, to help with the cost of living and ensure every child gets a great start.
It’s a conversation we kicked off last year when I promoted subsidized kindergarten for many youngsters in Central Queensland.
At that time I announced the following:
Over five years, the package includes:
Free kindy access for 14,000 children a year
Reduced fees for a further 26,000 children a year
$33 million to expand Kindy Uplift from 400 to 930 services
$38.5 million to help remote and regional services attract and retain early childhood teachers
$95million in support for families with children who have a disability
Now, under the $1 billion Kindy for All program 14,000 already get it free in Queensland, most saving around $4,500 a year.
Another 26,000 get it cheaper. But there are 8,000 kids that could be enrolled in kindy that aren’t, and we want everyone to experience the great benefits of kindy.
The Palaszczuk Government wants kindy in Queensland to not only be world class, but accessible to every child.
This is a significant change for the sector, and we’ll be working closely with providers in the coming months on things like software upgrades, contracts, and consultation with families.
I’m proud that Queensland has seen kindergarten participation grow from 29 percent in 2008 to 96 percent today.
This announcement means more than 400 kids living in the Livingstone Shire Council area will get reduced price kindy, and nearly 50 won’t pay anything at all.
The Palaszczuk Government is proud to be investing in Queenslander’s early years.
We’re investing in our youngest Queenslanders, we’re investing in our families, and we’re investing in CQ’s future.
The new kindy funding reform package is in response to the 2019 ‘Optimising outcomes for children: A review of early childhood education funding and arrangements in Queensland’.
Total investment in kindy from 2023-2024 will be $307 million. This includes the investment from the Australian Government.
So, I’m asking for our input on our kindergarten plans, whether you support them or do they go far enough.
Have your say at www.qld.gov.au/kindy or call the kindy team 3035 2244.
