29 March 202 2
Federal Budget: Catholic education welcomes the government's commitment to early childhood and boarding students in regional and remote areas Catholic education welcomes the Morrison Government's commitments to increase early childhood services in regional and remote areas, and scholarships for boarding students, announced in tonight's budget.
National Catholic Education executive director Jacinta Collins said the government's recognition of regi onal and remote areas in early childhood and boarding services will strengthen the work schools are already doing in th ese areas.
"As well as dealing with the impacts of the COVID - 19 pandemic, regional, rural and remote areas in Australia have faced s ignificant challenges in the past two years facing floods, drought and bushfires," Ms Collins said.
"These challenges hav e exacerbated and deepened existing inequalities for our students in these areas." Early Childhood Education The government has com mitted to $19.4 million for Regional Education Early Childhood education and care to support more childcare places in regio nal, rural and remote Australia, and a further open round of the Community Child Care Fund will be held to support the establishment of up to 20 new childcare services in regional and remote communities.
"The more we can support the work of early childhoo d services, schools and families in these areas, the greater our ability to address disadvantage and improve outcomes for young peopl e and their communities.
Across Australia, the Catholic education sector also operates about 400 preschools and early chil dhood centres, educating nearly 15,000 children across Australia.
"The government's commitment to 20 new centres in regional and rem ote areas will enable greater choice for families to access affordable early learning for their children," she said.
"As h ighlighted in our Pre - Budget Submission, the Catholic education sector is ready and willing to expand the delivery of early childhood education in response to increasing need from families.
