EDUCATION AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT

Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:53): My question is to the Minister for Education and Child Development. Can the minister outline the role and reasons for the establishment of the new Department for Education and Child Development?

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development) (14:53): Thank you, and I acknowledge the honourable member's outstanding advocacy and commitment that she—

Mr PISONI: Point of order: standing order 97. This is clearly opinion, Madam Speaker.

The SPEAKER: For heaven's sake, member for Unley, sit down. She has hardly started the question.

The Hon. P.F. Conlon interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Thank you, Minister for Transport. Minister for education; there was no point of order.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I would like to acknowledge the longstanding advocacy—anybody who knows the member for Reynell, knows that she is always going on about opportunities for—

Members interjecting:

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —she is always working incredibly hard—

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister will be heard in silence.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I would also like to take this opportunity to wish our SACE students all the best for their exams today.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: I think it's biology and ICT. I am very, very pleased to report to the house today on what is a very significant policy reform for our community, and that is the creation of the new Department for Education and Child Development. I have to say that the creation of this new agency is not the end in itself, but it is the means by which we will ensure—on this side of the house—that every child and young person in our community gets the best possible start in life so that they can go on to be productive, active citizens in our community. That is the vision for our children, and that is why we are bringing together—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —the three key agencies across government that interface the most with children and their families. That includes most of the services in Families SA, education, and many of the non-clinical children's health services, but we are still negotiating what they will be. These institutional changes respond to the neuroscience, the research—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Members on my left will be quiet. I can hardly hear the minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: —into early brain development by experts like Adelaide Thinker in Residence, and international leader in early childhood development, Dr Fraser Mustard. The research tells us what many of us know instinctively.

Ms Chapman interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Member for Bragg, you are warned for the second time. Minister.

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI: The research tells us that the first five years of a child's life are absolutely critical and obviously last a lifetime, and we know that children do not learn and develop in isolation from their health and their family circumstances. The nurture and support they receive right from birth influences their opportunities throughout their life. This important initiative builds on the leadership already demonstrated here in South Australia in the area of early childhood.

For example, we have the pioneering and outstanding model in South Australia of our Children's Centres for Early Childhood and Parenting. We have more than 20 (I think we have about 23) of these centres across the state, and certainly more are on the way. They are a microcosm of what we are seeking to do with this agency. They bring together family, health and preschool support at the local school level, which means that they are much more easily accessed by families with young children.

I very much look forward to providing further reports to this house on this important policy reform and, in particular, the services that will ensure that every child, every young person and their family, gets the best start in life. I have to say some initial figures just for the benefit of the house in relation to the agency we are talking about: perhaps 27,000 public servants, about 14,000 teachers, about 700 social workers, and about 300 nurses.

In closing, in the words of someone very famous (I think he was Chinese), 'When the waters are rising, all boats go up.' I look forward to each and every person in this place to ensure that every child in our community gets the best start in life.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! Member for Bragg.