The Mitchell Institute monitors the performance of Australia's education system, with a specific focus on developing and advocating for policies that reduce inequality.

Our work identifies who is experiencing reduced opportunities in education, the factors driving inequality and the policy solutions that will provide greater opportunities for all young people to succeed in education and their life beyond.

Key contacts

Peter Hurley
Director, Mitchell Institute
Blonde child colouring in with a jar full of colourful pencils.
Fact sheet

Preschool programs in New South Wales

7 November 2016

New South Wales are significantly behind the rest of the country in ensuring all 4 year olds can access and attend preschool.

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Fact sheet

Kindergarten programs in Victoria

7 November 2016

The Victorian Government's commitment to the early years is reaping benefits, with some of the highest rates of participation in the country.

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Fact sheet

Preschool programs in the ACT

7 November 2016

The ACT has one of the highest proportions of 3 year olds in early education and care, however the proportion of 3 year olds in a preschool program is slightly below average.

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Fact sheet

Kindergarten programs in Tasmania

7 November 2016

A very small proportion of 3 year olds attend kindergarten in Tasmania - although over half of all 3 year olds are in ECEC.

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Mother walking child to preschool.
Fact sheet

Preschool programs in South Australia

7 November 2016

In South Australia, enrolment rates in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and preschool for 3 year olds are slightly lower than the national average.

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Preschool children sitting at a table playing with wooden toys.
Fact sheet

Kindergarten programs in Queensland

7 November 2016

Queensland has been very successful in ramping up access to 4 year old kindergarten programs, but has limited access to kindergarten programs for 3 year old children.

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Children and teachers in preschool classroom.
Fact sheet

Preschool programs in the Northern Territory

7 November 2016

In the Northern Territory, almost all 4 year olds are enrolled in a preschool program but only half of 3 year olds are attending ECEC.

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Opinion

Two years of preschool have more impact than one, research shows

2 November 2016

Providing universal access to preschool programs for all three-year-old children could improve results in the longer term and prevent the learning gap that sees nearly one in four children not ready for school.

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Fact sheet

Two years are better than one

31 October 2016

Providing universal access to preschool programs for all 3 year old children is an achievable and desirable policy goal for Australia.

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