Released 24/07/2023
High quality early childhood education sets the foundations for a child’s physical, emotional, cognitive and social development.
Expanding access to preschool for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families is a high priority for the ACT Government.
That’s why from the start of 2024, the ACT Government is expanding the number of sessions available at three of our five Koori Preschools.
This expansion is part of delivering on our commitment in the Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT to provide up to an additional 100 places for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander three year-olds at Koori Preschool.
The extra Koori Preschool sessions will be available at Ngunnawal Primary School, Narrabundah Early Childhood School and Richardson Primary School.
When children participate in quality early learning, they are more likely to make a successful transition to school, stay longer in school, continue to further education and fully participate in employment and community life as adults.
None of this is possible without the critical work of early childhood educators. Today is also the start of Early Learning Matters Week, where we thank and support early childhood educators working across the ACT. The ACT Government values the important role of early childhood educators, as professionals and significant influencers on the learning and development of children.
This announcement builds on the work we have done through the Koori Pre co-design process, which produced the Koori Pre Cultural Safety Framework and Koori Pre Curriculum, launched earlier this year and being implemented across all five Koori Preschool sites.
It also comes in addition to our 2023-24 ACT Budget announcement recently to provide access to families with a three-year-old child to one free day per week of preschool – our largest ever investment into the early childhood education sector.
Parents and carers can enrol Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Koori Preschool at any time between the age of three and five. Any eligible families not yet attending Koori Preschool can call 6207 1106, email EduKooriPre@act.gov.au or visit education.act.gov.au for more information.
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Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases