Media Releases

07 Jul 2010 - Assistance For Early Childhood Teachers Who Are Helping Our Most Disadvantaged Children

THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
MINISTER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION,
CHILD CARE AND YOUTH

MEDIA RELEASE

7 July 2010

Assistance for early childhood teachers who are helping our most disadvantaged children

Minister for Early Childhood Education and Child Care Kate Ellis today encouraged early childhood education teachers who are working in disadvantaged areas to apply for the HECS-HELP Benefit.

Early Childhood Education teachers who are working in areas of disadvantage can apply to the Australian Taxation Office to reduce their university debt from July 2010.

"Early childhood professionals play a vital role in our children's development and wellbeing," Ms Ellis said.

"However, child care services and preschools in areas of disadvantage across Australia are experiencing difficulties in attracting early childhood teachers."

"This initiative is helping us to attract and retain teachers in disadvantaged areas so we can provide quality early education to all Australian children no matter where they live."

The Early Childhood Education HECS-HELP Benefit provides eligible early childhood teachers with a reduction in their debt of more than $1 600 per year for the equivalent of five years of eligible employment.

Eligible early childhood education teachers working in areas of high need are encouraged to apply to reduce their HECS-HELP debt when they complete their 200910 tax returns.
The Australian Government has provided $12.4 million to reduce the HECS-HELP debt of early childhood education teachers working in regional or remote areas, Indigenous communities, or areas of high socio-economic disadvantage based on postcode location.
The HECS-HELP Benefit initiative is part of a $126.6 million funding package by the Australian Government to retain, upskill and retain a strong and high quality early childhood education workforce.

The package also includes $53.9 million to create additional university places for early childhood teachers, starting with 500 places in 2009 and rising to 1 500 places by 2011.

The Australian Government recognises that the early years are critically important for children and that learning is most effective when it begins at a young age.

The Australian Government is providing $955 million to states and territories over five years to achieve Universal Access to early childhood education.

This means that every child will have access to affordable, quality early childhood education in the year prior to formal schooling by 2013.

For more information about the HECS-HELP Benefit and how to apply, visit the Australian Taxation Office at www.ato.gov.au.

Minister Ellis' media contact: Jamila Rizvi 0438 644 603
DEEWR Media: media@deewr.gov.au Non-media queries: 1300 363 079