MONDAY 7 APRIL 2025 MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MAKING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND RECOGNISED AS ESSENTIAL
Community independent candidate for Calare, Kate Hook, has announced her position on early childhood education declaring she will push for greater accessibility, affordability and making it recognised as an essential and core part of each Australian’s lifelong learning and the education system.
“Early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning, social development, and economic opportunity. Yet, it remains treated as a service rather than an essential part of our education system,” Ms Hook said. “I will advocate for early childhood education to be fully integrated into Australia’s education system, ensuring that every child has access to quality learning from birth, not just when they start school.”
Parents across Calare should not be forced to choose between work and their children’s education. The high cost of childcare means many families—particularly women—are locked out of the workforce.
“Childcare needs to be affordable and accessible for all families regardless of geographic location. Every Australian has the right to the best possible future themselves starting with childcare and education.”
Kate will work to:
- Support universal access to early learning, ensuring all children can benefit from affordable, high-quality education, regardless of their parents’ employment status.
- Reduce financial stress on families by advocating for government investment that makes childcare genuinely affordable, not just for low-income households but for all families.
- Ensure no family is left behind by prioritising regional investment and funding models that ensure rural and remote communities have the same opportunities as metropolitan areas.
Ms Hook said, "Families should never have to choose between putting food on the table and giving their children the best start in life."
“Too many families in Calare struggle to access early learning due to a critical shortage of childcare places. This problem is particularly severe in rural communities, where "childcare deserts" leave parents with no options at all. It won’t happen overnight, but I will work to end the childcare shortage in regional areas by making drastic improvements, in consultation with families and providers, during my first term when elected.”
Kate will:
- Push for urgent government action to fund and expand early learning centres in areas where demand exceeds supply.
- Support community-based childcare solutions to ensure regional families have reliable, long-term childcare options.
- Advocate for better planning rules and incentives to help local governments and businesses establish childcare services in under-serviced areas.
“Australia’s early childhood education workforce is in crisis, with low wages, high workloads, and widespread burnout driving skilled educators out of the sector. They need much greater support. Our kids deserve the best educators, and our educators deserve respect, proper pay, and decent conditions. Without them, families are left without options.”
Kate will:
- Fight for fair pay and better conditions for early childhood educators, ensuring they are valued for the crucial work they do.
- Push for national workforce strategies to recruit and retain early educators, with incentives for professionals to work in regional communities.
- Ensure educators have career pathways and professional development opportunities so they can continue supporting our children while building their own futures.
"All children deserve quality early education, regardless of their background or abilities. Every child should have access to early learning, including those with additional needs.”
Kate will work to:
- Increase funding for early intervention programs, ensuring children with disabilities and developmental delays get the support they need.
- Improve inclusivity in early learning services, ensuring children from diverse backgrounds, including First Nations families and migrant communities, have culturally appropriate education.
“Investing in early childhood education is one of the smartest economic and social policies Australia can adopt. Every dollar invested in early education delivers benefits in workforce participation, economic growth, and improved educational outcomes. I will work tirelessly to ensure every child in Calare gets the best start in life and the opportunity to thrive,” Ms Hook concluded.