Ministers from across the education, health, community services and indigenous portfolios converged on Melbourne recently for the first ever meeting of Ministers responsible for Early Childhood from around Australia.

Children and Early Childhood Development Minister Maxine Morand attended the meeting along with Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Maxine McKew, and Ministerial counterparts from around Australia.
“This meeting reflects the priority that jurisdictions across Australia now place on early childhood development,” Ms Morand said.
“This group of ministers represents the new cooperative and coordinated approach that is being made across jurisdictions, portfolios and industry sectors to ensure Australian children get the best possible start in life.
“We are talking about creating an early childhood education and care sector with clear and high expectations for all children.’’
Ms Morand said the Brumby Government has been leading the way in this area.
“In 2007 we released a plan to improve outcomes in early childhood. This plan proposed a coordinated approach with proposed reforms in early childhood development across health and education,’’ she said.
“Earlier this year the Premier made a commitment to boost early childhood education and care, and streamline the transition into the schooling system.’’
Ms Morand said the Brumby Government had initiated major changes to the early childhood sector based on the understanding that learning is a continuous process from birth and that a child’s earliest experiences have a direct impact on a child’s future prospects.
“Many of the proposals included in our plan are now being considered for the Council of Australian Governments reform agenda,’’ she said.
Ms Morand said she looked forward to further meetings of the Ministers to work with the Federal and other State Governments to progress the reforms under consideration.