| The Hon Lindsay Tanner MP Minister for Finance and Deregulation |
The Hon Maxine McKew MP Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care |
16/2009
14 March 2009
Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care, Maxine McKew, and the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, today launched an online consultation forum, which will focus on the Early Years Learning Framework.
The online forum will run from 14 March to 20 April 2009.
Ms McKew said the forum will encourage the early childhood sector and people interested in early childhood education, to trial the draft framework, participate in discussions and provide feedback directly to the Australian Government.
“The online forum is a new way for those interested in early childhood education to share their views about the development of the Early Years Learning Framework, and raise issues that are important to them,” Ms McKew said.
“The Early Years Learning Framework is being developed to ensure that children in all early childhood education and care settings experience quality teaching and learning,” Ms McKew said.
Mr Tanner said the online forum is part of a broader Australian Government commitment to trial online consultation.
“This Early Years Learning Framework online forum is one way that the Rudd Government is exploring opportunities the Internet provides for community consultation. Our goal is to identify ways to use technology to build stronger connections between government and the Australian people – enhancing transparency around policy and decision making.
“I encourage people with an interest in the Early Years Learning Framework to participate in this trial and help us explore this innovative way of developing a meaningful dialogue with Australians on a broader range of issues,” Mr Tanner said.
.
The Early Years Learning Framework is an early childhood education curriculum framework designed to guide delivery of high quality and nationally consistent early childhood programs.
The draft Early Years Learning Framework is currently being trialled in 29 sites across Australia. Feedback from these trials, as well as the online forum, will be used to prepare the final Early Years Learning Framework. The framework will be implemented in July 2009.
The framework is delivering on a Rudd Government commitment to improve outcomes and opportunities for children in their early years.
The Early Years Learning Framework online forum will be available for registered participants. Further information is available at www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood.
| Media Contact: | Website: |
|---|---|
| Minister Tanner's Office - Nardia Dazkiw - 0418 144 690 Minister McKew's Office: media@deewr.gov.au, Non-media queries - 1300 363 079 |
www.financeminister.gov.au |
