How the 3 Day Guarantee is Benefiting Families from Gowrie Broadmeadows Valley

It was a pleasure to welcome Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Jess Walsh to our Broadmeadows Valley service to meet with families who have directly benefited from the recently introduced 3 Day Guarantee. The Minister heard first-hand accounts of the difference that access to one additional day of early learning can make, not just for a child’s development, but for an entire family’s wellbeing.

Five families at Broadmeadows Valley told us how the 3 Day Guarantee is supporting them.

Family 1

Child: 4 years old

With a new baby on the way and shift work to navigate, this single-income family needed consistency. Increasing their four-year-old’s attendance to three days has supported their school readiness journey while reducing pressure at home. The biggest reward has been watching their child grow in confidence by speaking enthusiastically about Gowrie and coming out of their shell through richer interactions with peers and educators. As a bonus, three days now costs less than two did before.

Family 2

Child: 2 years old

When this parent increased their working days from two to three, their child’s enrolment at Gowrie followed suit. The result has been a better work-life balance, a more socially confident two-year-old, and, thanks to the 3 Day Guarantee, lower fees despite attending more. For a young family feeling cost-of-living pressures, accessing more care while paying less has been a genuinely welcome outcome.

Family 3

Two children: aged 2 and 4 years old

Both children had struggled to settle into care, but it is their four-year-old’s progress that has been most remarkable. When first enrolled, the child was pre-verbal and selective in communication. Since increasing their days, their speech has improved significantly, their confidence has grown, and the parent has noticed a new warmth in how they interact with their younger sibling. The additional day has also reduced their fortnightly fees.

Family 4

Child: 11 months old

Drop-offs had been difficult for this family, but three days per week simply was not affordable before the 3 Day Guarantee. As a result of the revised fees, their eleven-month-old now settles easily, seeks out familiar educators and peers, and manages transitions with confidence. For the parent, the guilt of leaving a distressed child has given way to genuine reassurance about their child’s wellbeing.

Family 5

Child: 1 year old

This parent was recently diagnosed with perinatal depression, and their psychiatrist recommended increasing their child’s early learning attendance to ease the load at home. Before the 3 Day Guarantee, three days per week was unaffordable with subsidised hours running out mid-fortnight, adding approximately $40 in extra fees. The incentive made it possible. Their child is now thriving, and the parent has been able to focus on their recovery in a way that simply was not accessible before.

Minister Walsh reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for the sector and to ensuring that early childhood services remain sustainable and safe for the families and professionals who depend on them.

Gowrie CEO Karen Weston describes these case studies as great examples of how early childhood education benefits children, as well as the wellbeing of entire families. “Stories like these are exactly why we do what we do. The 3 Day Guarantee policy changes have removed real financial barriers for families who were already doing it tough, and what we see is children growing in confidence, parents finding breathing space, and families feeling supported rather than stretched. “Early childhood education has always had the power to change lives,” explains Karen.

We are grateful to the families who shared their experiences with us.