Ms Amy Carey:

As the Senator said, it needs to go somewhere. The early years sector supports children up to six years of age and youth work starts at the age of ten years up to 25 years, but there is a gap in the middle for after-school services. Six-year-olds to ten-year-olds do not have any statutory supports, particularly when it comes to marginalised communities. We do not mind where it falls but we are asking for a specific, sustainable after-schools funding model that is particularly for after-schools which are supporting young people at risk of educational disadvantage. That is a gap where there are no supports. We are open to whether it might fall under youth work or under early years, but it has to be specific to after-schools. That would be our request.