Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan spoke in Parliament this week to highlight the lack of support rural and regional preschools experience when providing equal early learning for all children.
The MP said his recent visit to the Inverell and District Family Services last month where he visited the new Bush Preschool, highlighted the challenges these services face in meeting the needs of children with additional learning and developmental needs.
Speaking from the floor of the Chamber Mr Moylan used a Private Member’s Statement to call on the Government to deliver greater resources for early intervention and to meet the growing demand.
“I recently had the opportunity to visit the new Bush Preschool operated by Inverell and District Family Services and while impressed by the innovative learning environment they have created, I left deeply concerned by the issues raised regarding support for children with additional learning and developmental needs,” Mr Moylan said.
“This service alone currently supports more than 300 children across its preschool services, with more than 80 of those children needing additional support, and the reality is that the level of need is increasing dramatically.
“For example, in 2022, this service alone made 35 applications for Higher Learning Support Needs funding – this year, there are 81 applications, more than double in just five years.
“The educators working in our regional preschools are doing remarkable work, however they are increasingly being asked to fill gaps that should be supported by a broader network of specialist services.”
Preschools are legally staffed at a ratio of one educator to ten children with many services in the electorate striving toward a ratio of one educator to five children to provide the support that many children now require.
The MP told parliament that funding is not keeping pace with the demand.
“Through the Higher Learning Support Needs program, services can receive funding of up to 600 hours at around $27.57 per hour, however, many services are paying closer to $43 per hour to secure qualified casual educators,” Mr Moylan said.
“Compounding these challenges are changes occurring within the NDIS environment and uncertainty surrounding future preschool funding arrangements.
“We know that access to speech pathologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and other allied health professionals is extremely limited in the bush, with families facing long waiting lists, significant travel requirements, or no local service at all.
“Early childhood educators are not health professionals, nor should they be expected to become substitutes for them.
“We need allied health professionals working alongside educators within early childhood settings, funding models that reflect the real cost of supporting children with complex needs and we need governments to recognise that early intervention is not an optional extra.
“It is an investment that delivers lifelong benefits.”
The MP concluded that the clear message from educators in his electorate was that they need:
Stronger early intervention services.
Better access to allied health professionals in regional communities
Funding settings that recognise the growing prevalence of additional learning needs.
Sufficient supported school placements to ensure children continue receiving the assistance they require beyond preschool.
“All children deserve every opportunity to equally develop, learn and thrive,” the MP said.
“I urge the Government to listen to the concerns being raised by regional early childhood providers and to work with them to ensure that no child is left behind simply because they live in the country.”
Media Release: Member for Northern Tablelands Brendan Moylan
