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Description:
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is the peak intergovernmental forum in Australia. COAG comprises the Prime Minister, State Premiers, Territory Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). The role of COAG is to initiate, develop and monitor the implementation of policy reforms that are of national significance and which require cooperative action by Australian governments.
During the 28th meeting on December 7, 2009 COAG signed a landmark agreement, The National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care, to drive higher quality early childhood education and care in Australia. The National Quality Agenda for Early Childhood Education and Care will create new quality standards, including higher staff to children ratios and better trained carers and early childhood teachers with requirements phased in over the next decade. Through a new ratings system, parents will be given better information on the quality of childcare services so that they can make the best decisions for their children. Childcare providers will benefit from streamlined regulatory arrangements that cut red tape.
See page 4 for the Early Childhood Reform- Productivity Agenda
See page 17- Attachment A for more details on the National Quality Agenda for early education and care