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Frequently asked questions
What is the Queensland Government commitment to early education?
The Queensland Government is committed to providing universal access to a Kindergarten Program for all children in the year prior to Prep. This quality early childhood education program will be delivered by a four-year degree qualified early childhood teacher and available for 15 hours per week for 40 weeks per year.
Why is the Kindergarten Program being provided for all children?
International research has clearly established that quality early learning experiences lay the foundation for children's subsequent achievement in schooling and for the future.
Who will deliver the Kindergarten Program and when will it be universally available?
Over the next five years, we will roll out 240 new and expanded kindergarten services, as well as mobile services, to reach children in small communities. We will also work with the Australian Government to enable child care providers to integrate Kindergarten Programs within their services to reach the large number of children that currently attend child care centres. By 2014, every child aged 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 years will be able to access 15 hours of the Kindergarten Program per week for 40 weeks per year.
Will the Kindergarten Program be compulsory?
The Kindergarten Program will be made available to all Queensland families who wish to access it (similar to the introduction of Prep last year). While not compulsory, we will encourage and support all families to enrol their children in the Kindergarten Program because we know the benefits that early education brings.
Who can attend?
The Kindergarten Program is for all children in the year prior to Prep (that is for children primarily aged between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 years). Like we do for Prep, the Kindergarten Program will be inclusive and support children with special needs.
Will children living in rural and remote parts of Queensland be able to access the Kindergarten Program?
Yes. Because children's educational opportunities should not be limited by where they live, we will test a range of services such as mobile kindergartens and virtual technology to reach families living in small and remote communities.
My child attends a child care centre - what impact will the new Kindergarten Program have on me?
Children attending child care centres also need to be able to participate in high-quality early education programs. Some child care centres already provide a high-quality early education program delivered by a qualified early childhood teacher. We will work with the Australian Government to ensure child care centres receive financial support to employ a qualified early childhood teacher and provide a recognised early education program.
My child attends Family Day Care - what impact will the new Kindergarten Program have on me?
The Queensland Government is currently trialling innovative and mobile services across a range of settings, including the Family Day Care sector. The Queensland Government will be working with Family Day Care Schemes to explore how the program may be offered to enable children using these services to access the program.
Who will establish the extra 240 kindergarten services?
The Queensland Government will extend its partnership with the Creche and Kindergarten Association of Queensland (C&K) and other providers to establish an extra 240 kindergarten services across the state, particularly targeting areas where there is insufficient supply of ECEC places to meet demand.
Where will these new services be located?
Approximately, 12,000 kindergarten-aged children do not attend centre-based early childhood education and care services. Planning and consultation will be undertaken to identify areas of unmet demand, and where possible services will be co-located on or near school sites.
What kind of qualifications will be required to work as an early childhood teacher?
Teachers delivering the kindergarten program will be required to be four year degree-qualified early childhood educators. We will work closely with universities in Queensland and the Australian Government to ensure availability of programs and courses with appropriate course content that meet the needs of Queensland children and students.
Are there enough early childhood teachers in Queensland to deliver Kindergarten Programs?
We will work with training providers, universities and other key groups to provide the required number of four-year degree qualified early childhood teachers to staff the expanded early education services across both kindergartens and child care centres. Attracting and retaining qualified teachers to work in rural areas and child care centres will be a challenge. The Queensland Government will work with the Australian Government to address these challenges.
Are there any incentives to encourage 'unqualified' child care workers to gain an early childhood qualification?
The Queensland Government is working with the Australian Government to remove fees on Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Children's Services. TAFE Colleges in Queensland will apply the Federal Government policy when it is introduced and provide support to workers in childcare settings to upgrade their qualifications
Where can I access a one-stop centre for early childhood education, care and family support?
The Queensland Government is committed to developing integrated Early Years Centres where parents can access early education services, child care, child health services, parent programs and other family support in one location. New facilities for two services in Caboolture and Nerang are under construction with a further two centres planned for Browns Plains and Cairns
Why a new Office for Early Childhood Education and Care?
The new office will bring responsibility for early childhood education and care services together within the one agency. Establishing this office recognises that 'early education' and 'care' are inextricably linked and will provide a strong platform for early years reform. The new office will be headed by its own Chief Officer and report to the Minister for Education and Training. The immediate priority for the office will be to consult with stakeholders to develop Queensland's plan to achieve universal access. The office will also lead Queensland's input into the national early childhood reform agenda that is being progressed through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
In addition, the office will take responsibility for a range of other early childhood policy, legislation, programs and services by the end of 2008, to ensure an integrated statewide approach. In order to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements, the Public Service Commission will establish a committee to identify and oversee the required machinery of government changes in consultation with staff and relevant unions.
How will stakeholders have input?
The office will consult with stakeholders to develop Queensland's plan to achieve universal access. Meetings are already underway with key stakeholders to discuss Queensland's plan to achieve universal access and formal consultation mechanisms are being established including an ECEC Forum that will discuss broader early childhood issues. The ECEC Forum will meet quarterly commencing in March 2009.
This website has been established to provide information for parents, service providers and the general community.
Will existing private or community kindergartens be affected by the new state funded kindergartens?
The aim of the new services is to accommodate the 12,000 children not currently accessing any early childhood education or care centre-based services. The Office for Early Childhood Education and Care is consulting with private and community kindergartens as part of the implementation of the new program. In the meantime it is business as usual with all current kindergarten services encouraged to maintain their existing linkages with government agencies.
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