Anne Tolley

Extra $550m to improve families� access to ECE

• $416.7 million over four years to meet the increased demand from population growth, and more children staying in ECE for longer periods of time.
  
• $61 million over four years to increase funding rates for ECE services to allow for rises in costs.
  
• $21.5 million over four years to extend and strengthen the early childhood equity fund, which provides additional resources to services with high enrolments of children from priority groups. Services will receive additional funding to set up in priority communities.
  
• $12.8 million operating and $18 million capital expenditure over four years for an early learning information system to improve information about participation and system performance.
  
• $20.3 million over four years to fund early childhood education for children in care and to extend the Home Interaction Programme for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY).