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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 2805 ..

MR STEFANIAK (continuing):

Mr Speaker, I welcome the opportunity this inquiry has presented for a broad-based review of future provision of preschool services. The committee's deliberations and the recommendations that have been made provide valuable reinforcement of the work the Government is committed to pursuing in preschool and early childhood education. I thank the committee for the obvious time and effort that they have put into their recommendations.

I welcome in particular the committee's recommendation that a statement of purpose on the delivery of preschool services be developed. Indeed, this need was also identified by the Auditor-General in his report and was further acknowledged in the Government's submission to the standing committee's inquiry. It is important to note that the need for a more cohesive provision of early childhood services is already a priority. Action has started on this with, for instance, the formation of the Children's Services Branch and the inclusion of the Child Health and Development Service, CHADS, within the Department of Education and Community Services. The development of a statement of purpose for early childhood services, with a particular focus on preschool services, will further this initiative and will also involve key stakeholders in early childhood services in a broad consultative process. A long-term plan for the provision of government-funded preschools within the context of early childhood provision is a natural extension of initiatives already taken by the Government in streamlining and integrating preschool and early childhood services.

The committee also recommended, as part of its report, that the usual process of adjustments to preschool operational decisions be followed for 1999. This accepts and reinforces the use of factors which resulted from the extensive consultation in the 1997 review of preschool enrolment policy and procedures. There were 21 adjustments in this sector for 1999, and after making those changes some 97 per cent of eligible four-year-olds registered at the 2 September census will be offered a year of preschool at the preschool of their first choice. Responsible management and the effective utilisation of resources will continue to include the agreed factors in making operational decisions for preschools, and staffing decisions will continue to be made on a district basis to allow for the best use of preschool places.

The committee's final two recommendations cover the issues of professional support for preschool teachers and assistants, and the adequacy of support for children with special needs. The Government agrees with the need to examine both these issues. We will conduct two projects concurrently to investigate both the future provision of professional support to teachers and assistants, and the adequacy of support for children with special needs in accessing government preschools. Both projects will actively involve both parents and staff and will benchmark across Australian States and Territories where applicable. The results of these projects will be completed by June 1999 and will inform the provision of support in both these important areas.

The Government agrees with the committee's recommendations, which have highlighted and extended the Government's existing priorities for early childhood service provision in the ACT.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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