Report on Government Services 2016
Chapter 3, Volume B
Early childhood education and care
The Early childhood education and care chapter (chapter 3) reports on early childhood education and care for children aged 12 years or younger.
Download the chapter
- Chapter 3 Early childhood education and care, attachment tables, and data quality information (PDF - 3394 Kb)
- Chapter 3 Attachment tables (XLSX - 1079 Kb)
- Key Facts
- Indicator Framework
- Indicator Results
- Indigenous Data
There were 1 188 218 children aged 12 years or younger attending Australian Government Child Care Benefit approved child care services in the March quarter 2015, an increase of 6.9 per cent from 2014.
In 2014, 289 730 children aged 4 and 5 years, or 95.1 per cent of 4 year old children were enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full time schooling, an increase from 90.9 per cent in 2013.
In 2014, 75.4 per cent of 4 year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children were enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full time schooling. This proportion has increased from 73.9 per cent in 2013 and 65.0 per cent in 2012.
The median weekly cost for 50 hours of Australian Government Child Care Benefit approved long day care increased by 4.9 per cent from 2014 to 2015 and decreased by 0.7 per cent for family day care.
At 30 June 2015, 66.5 per cent of National Quality Framework approved services with a quality rating met or exceeded the National Quality Standard overall.
Total Australian, State and Territory government recurrent and capital expenditure on early childhood education and care was $8.6 billion in 2014-15 — a real increase of $745.6 million (9.6 per cent) from 2013-14.
Early childhood education and care services aim to:
- meet the education and care needs of all children in developmentally appropriate ways, in a safe and nurturing environment
- provide quality services across a range of settings delivered in an equitable and efficient manner, meeting individual need.
The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of ECEC services. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2016 Report.
An overview of the Early childhood education and care (ECEC) performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the ECEC chapter and attachment tables.
Equity — Access indicators
Participation rates for special needs groups in child care
Proportion of 0-12 year olds attending Australian Government CCB approved child care who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, 2015. Compared to community proportion, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 2.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 4.6 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 2.1 |
% | 5.4 | 1.6 | 7.9 | 6.3 | 4.5 | 9.4 | 2.8 | 41.4 | 5.5 |
Proportion of 0-12 year olds attending Australian Government CCB approved child care who are from low income families, 2015. Compared to community proportion, 2013-14
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 23.7 | 27.0 | 24.8 | 21.2 | 22.4 | 25.1 | 11.2 | 13.5 | 24.0 |
% | 17.8 | 17.6 | 16.6 | 11.9 | 18.5 | 24.8 | 6.1 | 9.0 | 16.8 |
Proportion of 0–12 year olds attending Australian Government CCB approved child care with disability, 2013. Compared to community proportion, 2012.
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 3.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 4.2 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 3.0 |
% | 6.8 | 6.3 | 6.4 | 7.4 | 6.7 | 9.3 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 6.7 |
Participation rates for special needs groups in preschool
Proportion of 3–5 year olds enrolled in a preschool program who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, 2014. Compared to community proportion, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 4.7 | 1.4 | 4.9 | 5.9 | 6.5 | 8.6 | 2.3 | 35.4 | 4.6 |
% | 5.3 | 1.7 | 8.0 | 6.1 | 4.6 | 9.6 | 2.9 | 38.7 | 5.5 |
Proportion of 3–5 year olds enrolled in a preschool program who are from regional areas, 2014. Compared to community proportion, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 29.2 | 23.5 | 33.0 | 17.5 | 22.9 | 98.2 | 2.8 | 53.2 | 27.9 |
% | 25.0 | 23.7 | 35.6 | 17.2 | 23.6 | 98.2 | 0.5 | 50.8 | 27.4 |
Proportion of 3–5 year olds enrolled in a preschool program who are from remote areas, 2014. Compared to community proportion, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 0.8 | – | 2.8 | 7.0 | 4.0 | 1.8 | .. | 46.5 | 2.4 |
% | 0.6 | 0.1 | 3.5 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 1.8 | .. | 49.2 | 2.6 |
Effectiveness — Access indicators
Children using child care
Proportion of 0–12 year olds attending Australian Government Child Care Benefit (CCB) approved child care, 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 32.2 | 31.3 | 33.2 | 21.4 | 32.0 | 27.7 | 40.7 | 19.2 | 30.6 |
Children enrolled in preschool
Proportion of 4 year old children who are enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full time schooling, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 74.0 | 109.3 | 102.4 | 100.8 | 105.0 | 105.8 | 112.5 | 89.7 | 95.1 |
Proportion of 4 year old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are enrolled in a preschool program in the year before full time schooling, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 64.5 | 92.6 | 63.2 | 102.2 | 98.7 | 94.8 | 95.2 | 80.4 | 75.4 |
Children attending preschool
Proportion of 4 year old children who are attending a preschool program in the year before full time schooling, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 71.3 | 103.8 | 98.8 | 97.1 | 103.4 | 104.5 | 109.9 | 81.7 | 91.4 |
Non-standard hours of care in child care services
Proportion of Australian Government CCB approved child care services providing non-standard hours of care, 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 16.2 | 22.6 | 52.9 | 26.1 | 22.2 | 15.1 | 4.8 | 16.5 | 26.3 |
Effectiveness — Access — Service affordability indicators
Child care service costs
Median weekly cost for 50 hours of Australian Government CCB approved long day care (LDC) and family day care (FDC), 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$ LDC | 425 | 420 | 363 | 405 | 383 | 395 | 493 | 400 | 400 |
$ FDC | 333 | 344 | 362 | 375 | 335 | 435 | 398 | 450 | 341 |
Preschool service costs
Median per hour preschool program cost after subsidies per child enrolled aged 4 and 5 years, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$ | 3.60 | 2.20 | 1.90 | – | – | – | – | – | 2.20 |
Effectiveness — Quality — Staff indicators
Staff quality in ECEC
Proportion of paid primary contact staff employed by CCB approved child care services with a relevant formal qualification at or above Certificate III level, 2013
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 73.5 | 79.8 | 76.5 | 68.9 | 70.1 | 75.4 | 50.6 | 53.2 | 74.1 |
Effectiveness — Quality — Standards indicators
Achievement of the National Quality Standard
Proportion of National Quality Framework approved services with a quality rating who met or exceeded the National Quality Standard overall, 30 June 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 57.3 | 78.7 | 72.5 | 56.1 | 71.4 | 58.3 | 46.9 | 20.5 | 66.5 |
Substantiated breaches arising from complaints
Number of substantiated breaches arising from complaints per 100 NQF approved services, 2014-15
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | 23 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 5 | — | 8 | 5 | 13 |
Effectiveness — Quality — Health and safety indicators
Hospital separations for external causes of injury
Proportion of hospital separations for children aged 0–4 years resulting from an external cause of injury occurring in 'school', 2013-14
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 2.7 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 5.2 | 1.4 | 2.6 |
Efficiency — Inputs per output unit — Dollars per child indicators
Total government recurrent expenditure on ECEC per child in the community
Australian Government and State and Territory government recurrent expenditure on ECEC per child aged 0–12 years in the community, 2014-15
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$ | 2078 | 2157 | 2298 | 1922 | 2590 | 2353 | 2851 | 2862 | 2188 |
Australian Government recurrent expenditure per child attending CCB approved child care
Australian Government recurrent expenditure per child aged 0–12 years attending CCB approved child care, 2014-15
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 5830 | 5787 | 6050 | 5784 | 6070 | 6344 | 5515 | 8987 | 5951 |
Outcome indicators
Family work-related needs for child care
Proportion of children aged 0–12 years in families for whom additional formal child care was currently required for work-related reasons, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 4.0 ± 1.2 | 2.7 ± 0.9 | 3.1 ± 1.5 | 3.0 ± 1.3 | 3.5 ± 1.6 | 5.0 ± 2.9 | np | 4.7 ± 3.1 | 3.6 ± 0.6 |
Proportion of people aged 15 years or over not in the labour force due to caring for children whose main reason is child care service related
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 49.6 ± 6.0 | 49.4 ± 6.0 | 54.8 ± 10.5 | 44.1 ± 7.8 | 52.5 ± 11.9 | na | na | 60.6 ± 12.9 | 49.0 ± 3.6 |
Demand for ECEC
Proportion of children aged 0–12 years for whom additional formal child care or preschool was currently required, 2014
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 10.9 ± 1.7 | 9.5 ± 1.6 | 8.4 ± 2.4 | 10.1 ± 2.4 | 10.5 ± 2.5 | 11.0 ± 3.6 | 13.4 ± 3.4 | 11.8 ± 4.4 | 10.0 ± 0.8 |
Out-of-pocket costs of child care
Proportion of weekly disposable income that families with $75 000 gross annual income spend on one child for 50 hours long day care, after child subsidies, 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 11.2 | 11.1 | 8.3 | 10.8 | 9.5 | 9.2 | 13.8 | 10.2 | 10.4 |
Proportion of weekly disposable income that families with $75 000 gross annual income spend on one child for 30 hours long day care, after child subsidies, 2015
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 6.4 | 6.3 | 4.6 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 5.3 | 7.9 | 5.7 | 5.9 |
ECEC outcomes
Proportion of children who have had ECEC experience that are developmentally vulnerable on one or more domains of the AEDC, 2012
NSW | Vic | Qld | WA | SA | Tas | ACT | NT | Aust | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
% | 19.9 | 19.5 | 26.2 | 23.0 | 23.7 | 21.5 | 22.0 | 35.5 | 22.0 |
Legend
a Caveats for these data are available in chapter 3 and attachment 3A. Refer to the indicator interpretation boxes in chapter 3 for information to assist with the interpretation of data presented in this table.
b These data are derived from detailed data in chapter 3 and attachment 3A.
c Some percentages reported in this table include 95 per cent confidence intervals (for example, 80 per cent ± 2.7 per cent).
na Not available.
.. Not applicable. – Nil or rounded to zero.
np Not published.
Performance indicator data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this chapter are available in the attachment tables listed below. Contextual data and further supporting information can be found in the chapter.
Table number | Table title |
---|---|
Table 3A.13 | Proportion of children aged 0-5 and 6-12 years attending Australian Government CCB approved child care services who are from special needs groups, compared with their representation in the community |
table 3A.14 | Proportion of children aged 0-12 years attending Australian Government CCB approved child care services who are from special needs groups, compared with their representation in the community |
Table 3A.15 | Proportion of children aged 0-12 years attending State and Territory government (only) funded child care services who are from special needs groups, compared with their representation in the community |
Table 3A.16 | Proportion of children aged 3-5 years enrolled in a preschool program who are from special needs groups, compared with their representation in the community |
Table 3A.27 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4 and 5 years enrolled in a preschool program in the YBFS, by remoteness area, national only |
Table 3A.28 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people deferring access to GPs due to cost, 2012-13 (per cent) |
Table 3A.29 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4 and 5 years enrolled in a preschool program in the YBFS, by weekly hours |
Table 3A.35 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 4 and 5 years attending a preschool program in the YBFS, by remoteness area, national only |
Table 3A.36 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children attending a preschool program |
Table 3A.37 | Proportion of enrolled children aged 4 and 5 years attending a preschool program in the YBFS, by Indigenous status |