UNICEF Australia welcomes game changing reform for young children and families

UNICEF Australia welcomes the Three Day Guarantee Bill, which passed the Australian Parliament yesterday. This Bill ensures every child can access three days of subsidised care and abolishes the activity test which we know was a barrier for families trying to access early childhood education and care (ECEC). This is a critical reform which brings Australia one step closer to universal ECEC system and will be a game changer for many children.

This reform is targeted overwhelmingly at the families experiencing the most disadvantage, whose children will benefit immensely from attending ECEC, but who currently struggle to access it. This is particularly significant, as we know that ECEC helps shift trajectories for children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, and has enormous and compounding benefits across their lifetimes, as well as for their communities and for the economy.

With many families struggling with the rising cost of living, it is increasingly difficult to provide the basics for their children – food, clothes, medicine, sport, education and daycare fees. This disproportionately affects low income and single parent households, and compounds existing inequality. Thie Three Day Guarantee will help to ease those costs for families so all children can have the best start to life to grown, develop and thrive.

UNICEF Australia looks forward to working with the Australian Government to ensure a universal ECEC system becomes a reality in Australia, to make sure that no child is left behind and all children can reach their full potential.

14 February 2025