Published Friday, 08 August, 2008 at 06:00 PM
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, ATSIP, Multicultural Affairs, Seniors and Youth
The Honourable Lindy Nelson-Carr
Ministers unite on early years
The first face-to-face meeting of Ministers from around the country with responsibility for Early Years was held in Melbourne today.
The satellite forum was convened under the COAG Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.
Queensland Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the meeting was significant because it signalled for the first time a strong agreement from across Australia to focus on the early years of a child’s development in ways never tackled before.
“We are talking about parenting, early childhood development and investing in programs and supports that go to the heart of intervention and prevention,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It means investing early, right at the beginning of a child’s life, investing in the right supports and interventions to keep kids out of, for example, the juvenile justice system.
“We can no longer look at the early years from just an education or care perspective alone. We are taking a holistic approach to childhood development and care – including the physical and mental well-being of the child to truly give them the best start in life.”
Among issues discussed today were strengthening the early childhood sector, recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and how the national approach must be flexible enough to cater for geographic and cultural differences which are integral to Queensland.
Media contact: Chris Taylor 0419 710 874
The satellite forum was convened under the COAG Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs.
Queensland Communities Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the meeting was significant because it signalled for the first time a strong agreement from across Australia to focus on the early years of a child’s development in ways never tackled before.
“We are talking about parenting, early childhood development and investing in programs and supports that go to the heart of intervention and prevention,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.
“It means investing early, right at the beginning of a child’s life, investing in the right supports and interventions to keep kids out of, for example, the juvenile justice system.
“We can no longer look at the early years from just an education or care perspective alone. We are taking a holistic approach to childhood development and care – including the physical and mental well-being of the child to truly give them the best start in life.”
Among issues discussed today were strengthening the early childhood sector, recruiting and retaining qualified staff, and how the national approach must be flexible enough to cater for geographic and cultural differences which are integral to Queensland.
Media contact: Chris Taylor 0419 710 874