Minister for Early Childhood Education

The Minister for Early Childhood Education is an Australian Government ministerial position which is currently held by Jess Walsh following her swearing-in on 13 May 2025 as a result of Anthony Albanese's Labor government being re-elected at the 2025 Australian federal election.

Minister for Early Childhood Education
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent Jess Walsh since 13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)
Department of Education
Style	The Honourable
Appointer	Governor-General on the advice of the prime minister
Inaugural holder	Maxine McKew (as Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Childcare)
Formation	9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)
Website	ministers.education.gov.au/senator-hon-dr-jess-walsh

List of cabinet ministers for early childhood education

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Early Childhood Education, or any precedent title and sat in the Cabinet:^[1]

Order	Minister	Party		Ministry	Ministerial title	Term start	Term end	Term in office
1	Peter Garrett		Labor	2nd Gillard	Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth	14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)	1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)	2 years, 290 days

List of ministers for early childhood education outside of cabinet

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Early Childhood Education, or any precedent title but did not sit in the Cabinet::^[1]

Order	Minister	Party		Ministry	Ministerial title	Term start	Term end	Term in office
1	Kate Ellis		Labor	1st Rudd	Minister for Early Childhood Education, Childcare and Youth	9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)	24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)	1 year, 97 days
				1st Gillard		24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)	14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
(1)	Kate Ellis		Labor	2nd Gillard	Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare	14 December 2011 (2011-12-14)	1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)	1 year, 278 days
				2nd Rudd	Minister for Early Childhood, Childcare and Youth	1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)	18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
2	Anne Aly		Labor	1st Albanese	Minister for Early Childhood Education	1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)	13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)	2 years, 346 days
3	Jess Walsh			2nd Albanese		13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)	Incumbent	102 days

List of assistant ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for early childhood education or any of its precedent titles:^[1]

Order	Minister	Party		Ministry	Ministerial title	Term start	Term end	Term in office
1	Maxine McKew		Labor	1st Rudd	Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Childcare	3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)	9 June 2009 (2009-06-09)	1 year, 188 days