This week, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, Dr Anne Aly will attend the G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting in Bali to share the Albanese Government’s priorities in education as a key driver of economic growth, equity and employment.
Held over two days, the meeting brings together G20 members to share their vision for securing future global economic growth and prosperity through education.
“It is an honour to represent Australia and be part of an open discussion about education and youth with many of Australia’s most important international partners,” Dr Aly said.
“The education portfolio is crucial to every country’s economy as we each look at how to equip young people for current jobs and businesses, and for innovative opportunities in the future.
“The G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting is a valuable opportunity for open conversations on shared challenges in education delivery and to learn from each other to strengthen our international relationships.
“I plan to share with G20 ministers the Albanese Government’s plan to address key challenges across the early childhood education and care, schools and higher education sectors.
“Consolidating education partnerships with a number of our key international partners will be my focus, as the challenges we face in Australia are not unique to us and occur within all G20 member countries.”
The G20 meeting is concurrent with the Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in Canberra, which will bring together unions, employers, industry and Australian governments to address these shared economic challenges.
The summit will include consideration of the key roles that education can play in driving employment and address skills shortages, as well as help tackle disadvantage.
The summit builds on the Government’s commitment to provide 465,000 Fee Free TAFE places, and 45,000 new TAFE places, in industries facing skills shortages, including early childhood education.
In addition, the Government is establishing an Australian Universities Accord to drive lasting reform in our universities.
Over the last month Dr Aly convened roundtable meetings with the early childhood education and care and youth sectors to better understand the complex challenges they are facing.
“I heard from a wide range of representatives about the challenges facing the early childhood education sector including appropriate recognition as educators and the cost barriers families are experiencing as they try to access vital early years education,” said Dr Aly.
“Through the roundtables, I also met with youth from across Australia and heard about their priorities for a better and brighter future, including the barriers they face when entering the workforce.
“I have provided the invaluable insights shared with me at the roundtables to the Treasurer, ensuring that the challenges and barriers the early childhood education and care and youth sectors face will be an important part of the Jobs and Skills Summit.
“I’m very pleased a number of stakeholders from the early childhood education and care and youth sectors are attending the Jobs and Skills Summit, to continue their important and ongoing advocacy work.”
