Early Childhood Australia's Early Learning Matters Week wrap-up event, Parliament House, Canberra

I begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather.

In doing so, I want to acknowledge the central place of children in First Nations life and the generations of communities who have raised children strong in culture, Country and connection. 

I saw that firsthand at Garma a couple of weekends ago, and it was inspiring to see the joy and promise of the many children who took part in that incredible celebration of culture and community.

I also want to congratulate Early Childhood Australia on another successful year of celebrating Early Learning Matters Week.

I know everyone here doesn’t really need to be told that early learning matters.

You’re already focused on making this sector the best it can be.

You know how hard our educators work.

And you know the difference that quality early learning makes in a child’s life.

Setting them up to thrive in school and in the years beyond.

But I think it’s important that we take this time to stop for a moment and recognise the impact you have.

The Albanese Labor Government knows how important early learning is. 

And with Play School here today, I wanted to recognise the critical role our educators play in delivering high-quality, play-based learning to our nation’s children.

The first five years of a child’s life are a period of extraordinary growth.

It’s when children are developing language and relationships and beginning to make sense of the world around them.

At the heart of early childhood education is play-based learning.

Early learning that starts with each child. 

With who they are now, as well as who they are becoming.

Skilled educators create environments and experiences that invite children to explore and experiment.

To imagine, solve problems, and make connections.

When I visit early learning services, I am genuinely in awe of the educators.

Educators like Mary Silveri at East Brunswick Kindergarten and Child Care Centre which I visited last week with my colleague Peter Khalil, Member for Wills.

Mary has spent 40 years leading this service.

Now, I have a tendency to want to direct children as they're playing, and it's hard to hold back!

But I've seen how a question posed at the right moment from an educator can expand a child's thinking.

Like when a child at the centre I visited last week was struggling with some big feelings.

Mary brought over a board that had pictures of different emotions and asked the child to show how they were feeling.

She then brought out another board with pictures for the child to identify what they wanted to do next.

This child-led learning is priceless to watch. It's our educators giving children skills for the rest of their lives.

Other examples are how building something together introduces ideas about shape, space and numbers.

Stories and imaginative play develop language and help children understand themselves and other people.

Exploring outdoors opens up questions about nature, science and Country.

This is what makes play-based learning such a powerful pedagogy.

It gives children agency in their learning, while drawing on the skill and knowledge of educators to deepen and extend it.

And because every child is different, every early learning program is different too.

It is incredible work.

It is skilled, essential work that shapes a child's start in life.

And it's why our Government has backed early educators with our historic 15 per cent pay rise.

They deserve every cent.

And yesterday, we introduced legislation to lock in that 15 per cent pay rise. 

This is an additional $3.6 billion investment, building on our initial $3.6 billion. $7.2 billion in total. 

And it's worth it.

We’re also investing more broadly in strengthening this sector, because we know Australian families rely on it.

Our 3 Day Guarantee is helping more families afford early learning.

We’ve put record investment into the Child Care Subsidy. 

And we’re working on expanding access to help more families enjoy the benefits of early education and care.

Our $1 billion Building Early Education Fund is building more quality not-for-profit centres where families need them most, including in regional and outer-suburban areas.

And we’re consulting now on a possible Early Education and Care Commission that could help fix undersupply and oversupply in certain parts of the country. 

We are putting the building blocks in place right now for a universal early education and care system.

One that is high quality, affordable, and available where families need it most.

Because the investment in Australia's children is worth it, because families need it, and because early learning matters.

Thank you again to Early Childhood Australia and the many sector leaders and educators here today for the work you do every day.

Thank you for your commitment to quality in early learning and in giving our nation’s children a great start in life.