Editing Education in Australia (section)

==Preschool==
Government provision in Australia during the years before children start school is a relatively recent innovation. Historically, preschool and pre-prep programs in Australia were relatively unregulated, and children were cared for in informal ways by baby-sitters and by members of their families and close associates.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Raban|first1=Bridie|last2=Kilderry|first2=Anna|url=https://hkier.cuhk.edu.hk/en/publications/ej-v47n2-23-40|title=The Development of Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia|journal=Education Journal|year=2019|volume=47|issue=2|publisher=[[The Chinese University of Hong Kong]]|access-date=22 January 2025|pages=25–26}}</ref>  While still not mandatory for children to attend, the Federal Government has had a focus since 2009 on encouraging families to enrol their children (from around 4 years of age) in a preschool or kindergarten that delivers quality early childhood education and care.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Australia's children, Early childhood education and care|url=https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/children-youth/australias-children/contents/education/early-childhood-education-and-care|access-date=2022-12-02|website=Australian Institute of Health and Welfare|date=25 February 2022|language=en-AU}}</ref> Federal and state legislation requires preschool services to implement and deliver programming based on the nationally approved [[Early Years Learning Framework]], implemented from 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-11-22|title=Approved learning frameworks|url=https://www.acecqa.gov.au/nqf/national-law-regulations/approved-learning-frameworks|access-date=2022-12-02|website=ACECQA|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Belonging, being & becoming : the early years learning framework for Australia – Catalogue {{!}} National Library of Australia|url=https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/catalog/4968651|access-date=2025-02-18|website=catalogue.nla.gov.au|language=en}}</ref>  The first exposure many Australian children have to learn with others outside of traditional parenting is [[day care|daycare]] or a parent-run [[Pre-school playgroup#Playgroups in Australia|playgroup]].<ref>{{citation|title=History|url=http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/files/pdf/playgroupAU_page_History.pdf|publisher=Playgroup Australia|access-date=29 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808164309/http://www.playgroupaustralia.com.au/files/pdf/playgroupAU_page_History.pdf|archive-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> This sort of activity is not generally considered schooling, as preschool education is separate from primary school in all states and territories except Western Australia—where pre-school education is taught as part of the primary school system<ref name="resp">{{citation|url=http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/PreschoolEducationSheetNo2.pdf|title=The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia|access-date=18 February 2010|date=October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928134647/http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/PreschoolEducationSheetNo2.pdf|archive-date=28 September 2010}}</ref>—and Victoria, where the state framework, the [[Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework]] (VEYLDF) covers children from birth to eight years old, is used by some schools over the national framework.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/childhood/providers/edcare/veyldframework.pdf|title=Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework|work=Department of Education and Training|publisher=State of Victoria|location=Melbourne|isbn=978-0-7594-0800-5|date=2016|access-date=3 September 2019}}</ref> In Queensland, preschool programs are often called [[Kindergarten]] or Pre-Prep and are usually privately run but attract state government funding if run for at least 600 hours a year and delivered by a registered teacher.<ref>{{citation|author=Office for Early Childhood Education and Care|title=Kindergarten programs|url=http://deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/families/kindy-programs.html|access-date=22 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514104023/http://deta.qld.gov.au/earlychildhood/families/kindy-programs.html|archive-date=14 May 2013}}</ref>

Preschools are usually run by the state and territory governments, except in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], [[South Australia]] and [[New South Wales]] where they are more often run by local councils, community groups or private organisations.<ref name="resp"/> [[Preschool]] is offered for children ages three to five; attendance numbers vary widely between the states, but 85.7% of children attended preschool the year before school,<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/FS4.pdf|title=The Structures of Preschool Education in Australia|publisher=Australian Education Union|date=June 2007|access-date=18 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110216125646/http://www.aeufederal.org.au/Ec/FS4.pdf|archive-date=16 February 2011}}</ref> the main year of preschool attendance. This year is far more commonly attended and may take the form of a few hours of activity during weekdays.<ref>{{citation|last=Harrington|first=Marilyn|title=Enrolments, attendance and providers|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bn/2007-08/PreschoolEdAustralia.htm#_Toc198010807|work=Preschool education in Australia|publisher=Australian Parliament House|access-date=1 July 2010|date=9 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111230210643/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bn/2007-08/PreschoolEdAustralia.htm|archive-date=30 December 2011}}</ref>  Most states of Australia now fund government preschools to offer 15 hours per week (600 hours over a year) for each enrolled child in the year before they commence formal schooling<ref>{{Cite web|last=lisa.morrison|date=2021-08-02|title=Government investment in preschool funding|url=https://www.esb.sa.gov.au/news/government-investment-preschool-funding|access-date=2022-12-02|website=esb.sa.gov.au|language=en|archive-date=2 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202073225/https://www.esb.sa.gov.au/news/government-investment-preschool-funding|url-status=dead}}</ref>