That Victoria and NSW will provide an extra year of pre-school is very well received, problem will be finding the teachers

The National Skills Commission reported a year back that there was a shortage of pre-school teachers, with “around half” of vacancies unfilled. And while Universities Australia reports 13 000 students in early childhood education courses the Media Centre for Education Research reports a 39 000 shortfall of staff by 2029.

The NSW Government is matching Victoria in $25 000 scholarships for students in degree courses but that won’t cut it in expanding the workforce fast, especially upskilling diploma qualified people to degree standard. Flexible study and assessment arrangements – the sort of things that all women balancing work and small kids need – will help.