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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Media Releases
2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200829 Oct 2009 - Demand for quality care and education for young children
The Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Kate Ellis has welcomed a report showing strong support for improving the quality of early learning and childcare.
The report was commissioned by peak industry group Early Childhood Australia and presented to the Minister at Parliament House today.
The report shows that 84% of the 1097 people surveyed earlier this month believe that improving the quality of early childhood education and care is a priority.
"Raising the quality of early childhood education and childcare is a priority for the Rudd Government too, that's why we're leading reform in partnership with the States and Territories," Ms Ellis said.
"We know that the first five years of a child's life shapes their future in terms of their health, learning and social development and we want to make that future bright.
The report shows that 92% of those surveyed thought that employing and retaining experienced and qualified staff is important, while 85% believed increasing staff-to-child ratios is important.
"We want all services to offer quality early education and care to all young children, no matter where they live or what their background," Ms Ellis said.
"We're pushing for lower staff-to-child ratios, higher qualifications for staff, tougher quality standards for services and a rating system so parents can make informed choices about where they send their kids," Ms Ellis said.
"We've been talking with parents and the industry about what they think of our quality reform agenda and, although there are different opinions, there's broad support."
About 2000 have attended public consultation sessions, about 1700 service providers and 1200 parents have done online surveys and over 340 written submissions have been received.
The Rudd Government is investing almost $16 billion in early education and childcare over four years that's $1 billion dollars a year more than the previous Government.
"We're helping families meet the cost of child care and have increased the Child Care Benefit to cover 50% of parents' out of pocket costs."