OPINION: An extra year of preschool could help to narrow the earnings gulf between women and men with children - estimated at $2 million over a lifetime.
This work was important because, although Australian women are the most educated in the world, we rank 70th for women’s economic participation and opportunity. The difference in our ranking on the World Economic Forum league table is eye-opening.
It became clear that early childhood education and care reform is good for children, women and families, while driving productivity and economic benefits by releasing Australia’s highly educated and skilled women back into the workforce.From a child’s perspective, there is a mountain of research confirming that the early years are key for developing the social, emotional and cognitive skills that lay the foundations for life.
The Centre for Policy Development’s “Starting Better” report backs this, through the proposal for a guarantee for young children and families that entitles every child in Australia to three days of free, or low-cost, quality education from birth until school – beginning as soon as families need it – to provide all children with the lifelong benefits of early learning.This investment in our children’s future is also an investment in women’s economic equity.
Finally, it is encouraging that these commitments have been bipartisan and made jointly by the two largest Australian states. This sends a strong message nationally about the value of investing in social infrastructure and that long-term economic reform can sit above the political fray.
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