## Introduction

Good Beginnings is a national organisation that provides early intervention and parenting support programs across every State and Territory in Australia. Good Beginnings does not provide Childcare, rather focussing on supporting parents and carers in their parenting role. Good Beginnings’ response to the Productivity Commission’s Issue Paper on Childcare and Early Childhood Learning draws on service delivery experience, work in partnership and extensive knowledge of the communities in which it works. In particular Good Beginnings can provide a unique position due to its national positioning and understanding of the challenges at each State and Territory level. Good Beginnings would like to acknowledge collaboration with a group of organisation brought together by ACOSS in preparation of this submission and, while this is an individual organisational submission, support the principle agreed on in this group: that subsidies be targeted progressively at low-income earners. In addition Good Beginnings sees universal delivery and early intervention approaches key to preventing families experiencing vulnerabilities and risk becoming disadvantaged. Also key to Good Beginnings’ approach is a strong focus on outcomes and genuine community engagement in meeting the needs of children and families.

## General comments about the study

In responding to this Issue Paper, Good Beginnings’ greatest concern is for ensuring that high quality, accessible and affordable services are available for all children and families. The scope of the review covers a wide and diverse range of issues. Good Beginnings notes that many of the issues in scope for this study relating to defining the evidence base, features and demand for different services types have been, in-part, addressed through the 2011 Productivity Commission Early Childhood Development Workforce Research Report, and would refer to this study. The inclusion of multiple types of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) within the scope of the current study is promising—it is consistent with the approach of the National Quality Framework (NQF) applying quality principles across service types—and concerning—while framed as inclusive of multiple ECEC services, childcare is consistently differentiated from ‘education’. It is imperative that efforts focus on the quality of all ECEC services and integrate the care and education of children regardless of service type. The Issues Paper, in describing the scope for this study, raises the question of what roles different levels of government should play in ‘childcare and early childhood education’. Good Beginnings believes that the role of government in ECEC services should remain a significant priority and investment area. The National Quality Reform Agenda has gained significant ground in improving structures to support quality ECEC services through a NQF that brings traditionally separate ‘care’ and ‘education’ services closer together. There is however more ground to cover in relation to continuing to improve quality and simplifying access to supports and subsidy systems that enable participation.

4 4 Good Beginnings Australia – Productivity Commission Issue Paper: Childcare and Early Childhood Learning - Feb 2014