National Equal Opportunities Network

The National Equal Opportunities Network (NEON), a partnership between the Human Rights Commission and the EEO Trust, argued that the provision of high-quality, affordable and available early childhood education benefits both young children and their parents, and ultimately the community. They paid close attention to the lack of provision of early childhood care and education places in rural and low-income areas, and the gender imbalance in care roles that still operates as a cultural norm.
High quality early childhood care and education services can be a powerful equaliser, reducing disadvantages in low-income families. (Fletcher & Dwyer, 2008, p. 66)
The opportunities for learning, growth and development offered in high-quality early childhood