The Australian Government is investing in targeted measures to improve the lives of First Nations children through better access to quality early childhood education and care.
On this page:
National Agreement on Closing the Gap
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap aims to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments to work together to:
- overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and
- achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 19 national socio-economic targets. These targets focus on areas that impact life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Closing the Gap targets 3 and 4 focus on the early years. They aim to ensure:
- children are engaged in high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education
- children thrive in their early years.
Read the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
Closing the Gap annual report and implementation plan
On 13 February 2024, the Australian Government released the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2023 annual report and 2024 implementation plan.
The report:
- assesses progress against Closing the Gap targets in 2023
- outlines strategic priorities for Closing the Gap in 2024.
The report recognises that partnership with First Nations stakeholders is key to ensuring First Nations children can access culturally safe and high-quality education and care.
Read the Commonwealth Closing the Gap 2023 annual report and 2024 implementation plan
Expansion of Connected Beginnings
Connected Beginnings is for children from birth to school age and pregnant women. Through it, children can get steady, wrap-around support. This helps them meet the learning and development milestones needed for a smooth start to school.
Connected Beginnings is a grants program. Grants are made available in communities in need across Australia. Funding is used to get families access to culturally appropriate support services, including:
- maternal and child health
- early childhood education and care
- family support
- preschools and schools
- local government and council support.
The Australian Government has committed $81.8 million to expand the program. This will grow the program from 22 to 50 sites across Australia by 2025.
Selection of the new sites will be informed by:
- analysis of population and socio-economic data
- information from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC)
- First Nations stakeholder partnerships and local community engagement.
The expansion will benefit 8,550 children in remote or disadvantaged communities.
Expansion of the Community Child Care Fund restricted grant
The Community Child Care Fund (CCCF) restricted grant supports identified early childhood education and care services in disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.
The Australian Government has committed $29.9 million to establish new CCCF restricted services.
We are working with First Nations peak bodies, communities and organisations to establish these new services.
The aim is to increase participation rates of First Nations children in early childhood education and care settings.
The new services will be delivered, where possible, by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. This is in line with the Closing the Gap National Agreement.
An intensive early childhood education and care model trial
The Australian Government has committed $9.5 million to support a trial of an intensive early childhood education and care model at 4 sites.
The trial includes a dedicated First Nations site.
The trial contributes to Closing the Gap Targets 3 and 4.
Learn more about the intensive early childhood education and care model trial
Early Learning Teaching Pilot
The Australian Government has committed $1.9 million to design, implement and evaluate a new Early Learning Teaching Pilot.
The Government has partnered with the University of Melbourne to deliver and evaluate the pilot at three services, the first is Yappera Children’s Service in Thornbury Victoria, with the remaining sites yet to be announced.
The pilot will focus on helping First Nations children prepare for school. It will do this by strengthening literacy and numeracy skills through strengthened professional development, mentoring and feedback support for educators.
The pilot will draw on international evidence and local expertise regarding the benefits of different instructional models.
The pilot aligns with existing play-based approaches under the Australian Early Years Learning Framework, known to improve children’s early developmental outcomes.
Activity test for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children
Families can get at least 36 hours of Child Care Subsidy (CCS) fortnight for each Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander child in their care. This is regardless of their family’s activity level.
This measure will directly support Closing the Gap target 4.
Learn more about changes to the activity test for First Nations families.