A Little About Ursula

Ursula Stephens is a NSW Labor Senator-  actively involved in the third sector in Australia. Ursula is a strong advocate for social innovation, social entrepreneurship and social inclusion. She mentors social entrepreneurs and supports social enterprises across Australia.

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GOODSTART EARLY LEARNING LAUNCHED

GOODSTART EARLY LEARNING LAUNCHED

Senator Ursula Stephens today congratulated GoodStart on the launch of their new brand.

Thanks to a $15 million loan from the Australian Government last year, GoodStart were able to take over and operate 570 former ABC Learning Centres, which may otherwise have closed.

“When ABC Learning collapsed in 2008 there was a very real risk that hundreds of Australian child care centres across the country would have to close their doors at a moment’s notice,” Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis, said.

“The collapse threatened over 1000 child care centres nationally, who provided care for 120,000 Australian children from almost 95,000 Australian families. More than 16,000 incredibly hard working child care staff were also left at risk of unemployment.”

“With ABC owning 25 per cent of the Australian long day care market – the community was facing the equivalent of a child care tsunami.”

On 31 May last year the Australian Government announced that it would support the not-for-profit consortium GoodStart to take control of 570 ABC Learning early education and care centres.

“I was proud of our Government’s quick and decisive action to avert what would have been a disaster for thousands of families – action that provided stability and continuity of care for families and employees across the country affected by the collapse,” Senator Stephens said.

Without GoodStart stepping in and the Australian Government providing the necessary financial assistance, many of these centres would have been closed, leaving thousands of Australian families without child care options.

GoodStart has since expanded to encompass 650 learning centres, supporting more than 72,000 children, 60,000 families, and employing more than 15,000 people across the country.

“Here in Gilmore, GoodStart now operates the South Nowra learning centre,” Senator Stephens said.

“This centre not only supports Nowra parents to participate in the workforce, but is also a key part of our local community.”

“I know that GoodStart is passionate about ensuring children have access to high quality, affordable early learning experiences here in Gilmore, and I congratulate them on the relaunch of their brand.”


The Australian Government will invest a record $20 billion in early childhood education and care over the next four years. This includes more than $16 billion in direct payments to families to improve the affordability of care.