Wyndham City hosts first Have a Heart Party at Manor Lakes Kindergarten, with local families encouraging Federal Government to extend funding
Working families could be $2,000 worse off per child unless the Federal Government commits to fund kindergartens on an ongoing basis.
In the lead up to the release of the 2019-20 Federal Budget on 2 April Wyndham City has ramped up its I Love Kinder campaign to secure ongoing funding from the Morrison government.
On Friday, 15 February Wyndham City hosted the first Have a Heart Party at Manor Lakes Kindergarten, with local families sharing their love of kinder and encouraging the Federal Government to extend funding.
Wyndham City Mayor Cr Mia Shaw said cutting funding to kinders could have serious and ongoing repercussions for families throughout Australia. “Currently the Federal Government provides five hours of kindergarten a week for every four-year-old, while states like the Victorian Government provide 10 hours. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has only committed to fund their share until December, leaving families in limbo,” Cr Shaw said.
“If Scott Morrison does not extend funding beyond December and provide ongoing funding, then hundreds of thousands of families throughout Australia could be worse off and children could miss out on the quality education they deserve.”
In Wyndham alone, said Cr Shaw, there are more than 3,100 kids currently enrolled in kinder. “If the Federal Government does not fund their education on an ongoing basis then their families could be stuck paying an extra $2000 out of their own pockets just to fill the gaps,” Cr Shaw said.
“This is simply unacceptable and that’s why Council is leading the I Love Kinder Campaign. We’re encouraging other Councils, families, parents and teachers throughout Australia to add their voice to the campaign and help us tell Scott Morrison to have a heart and not cut kinder funding.”
By hosting their own Have a Heart Party, she explained that people throughout Australia could help them send this message to Canberra. Parents and kids can draw or write their favourite thing about kinder and then the organisers of the party can share them on social media with the hashtag #ilovekinder.
Wyndham City’s Learning City portfolio holder, Cr Josh Gilligan, said the benefits of a kindergarten education were clear.
“Kids who have a quality early childhood education do better in life on average. In general, they have a smoother transition to primary school, they have better social and cognitive skills and have superior literacy and numeracy skills once they’re at school than those kids who don’t attend kinder,” Cr Gilligan said.
“In school and beyond young people who attend kinder also remain ahead of those who don’t. They’re more likely to finish year 12 and on average they experience higher levels of employment, financial security, health and wellbeing. A quality kinder education is an investment in our future and if the Morrison government fails to recognise that then they will not only be failing children and families, they will be failing Australia,” Cr Gilligan said.
To get involved in the I Love Kinder campaign or to host a Have a Heart Party, visit www.ilovekinder.org.au
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