The Australian Government has welcomed moves by the New South Wales and Victorian governments to provide additional funding for early childhood education.
The premiers of the two states addressed the reform in a joint statement of intent issued today.
The NSW Government will invest more than $5.8 billion over 10 years to introduce universal pre-kindergarten for all children in NSW.
The Victorian Government will invest $9 billion over 10 years to make kinder free, deliver universal pre-prep for 4-year-olds, and establish 50 government operated child care centres.
The measures build on the National Preschool Reform Agreement. The agreement is providing $1.9 billion to states and territories over the next four years to strengthen the delivery of preschool and better prepare children for the first year of school.
The Commonwealth and states and territories are working in partnership to deliver this.
The Australian Government is also enhancing the Community Child Care Fund, which will result in an additional 20 child care services in regional and remote Australia, supporting Indigenous communities, and allowing more children to access quality early learning.