Our successes so far
2014
The Smart Start campaign was launched by Goodstart Early Learning to influence the then Federal Government’s planned overhaul of child care subsidies and challenges to the National Quality Framework. A Smart Start petition signed by over 15,000 parents and educators is tabled in the Senate calling for affordable quality early learning.
2017
The Federal Parliament passes the Jobs for Families child care subsidy package improving affordability for most families.
2021
The Federal Parliament commits to a further $1.5 billion of additional subsidies for families with multiple children, and $1.5 billion to make funding for preschool programs ongoing. The New South Wales and Victorian Governments commit to universal preschool for all children aged 3-5 in the two years before school.
2023
The Federal Government’s $4.5 billion Cheaper Child Care package dramatically reduces the cost of child care and early learning, while a Productivity Commission inquiry is launched to build a pathway to a universal early learning system.
2025
The Federal Government invests $189 million to strengthen safety and quality in ECEC settings and commits to establishing a National Educators Register and mandatory child safety training for all educators.
2026
Under the Federal Government’s 3-day-guarantee, all Child Care Subsidy (CCS) eligible families can get access to 3 days of subsidised child care (or 72-hours) per week regardless of parents’ working activity.