- Minister for Education
Early Learning Matters Week is an opportunity to recognise the contribution of the people who work in early childhood education supporting Australian families.
Our Government is investing more than $9 billion in early learning and child care this financial year, including more than $440 million to support around 350,000 children to access 15 hours per week of preschool in the year before school.
We are supporting early childhood workers to educate our children by funding innovative programs like Early Learning Languages Australia and Early Learning STEM Australia to develop foreign language skills and an interest in science long before children enter a classroom.
ELLA is in place in more than 3500 preschools throughout Australia, with a trial currently underway to expand it into primary schools in Foundation to Year Two. More than 100 preschool services around Australia are also taking part in the ELSA pilot, which uses digital apps to introduce young children through play to foundational science, technology and mathematics concepts.