SNAICC in the News – A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care Report and Connected Beginnings in Tulmur/Ipswich
The week of 16 September 2024 includes coverage of Productivity Commission new report A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care, Connected Beginnings expansion to Tulmur/Ipswich and more on the NT’s youth justice reform.
On Wednesday, 18 September, the Productivity Commission released A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care, outlining a roadmap for a high-quality, universal early childhood education and care system accessible to all children aged 0–5. SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed many of the recommendations, with CEO Catherine Liddle calling it a potential game changer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, if implemented correctly. Key recommendations include abolishing the activity test, ensuring 30 hours of care per week without financial barriers and addressing gaps in regional and remote services. SNAICC urges all governments to commit to these reforms that will lead to better developmental outcomes for vulnerable children.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro this week reaffirmed her government’s plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10. This policy has been met with widespread criticism by organisations, advocates, legal experts and human rights groups who argued that this approach overlooks deeper issues and these measures do not reduce crime; rather, they increase the likelihood of reoffending and expose vulnerable children to trauma and inadequate rehabilitation. Catherine calls for evidence-based approach to youth crime, emphasising prevention and early intervention over punitive measures. Commissioners from the Productivity Commission and NT Child Commissioner Shahleena Musk have also expressed concerns about the impact on Aboriginal children, calling for investments in education and support services.
The Australian Government announced a $2.9 million expansion of the Connected Beginnings program to Tulmur/Ipswich, supporting up to 1,900 children. Catherine Liddle praised the program for its community-led approach and its success in improving developmental outcomes. The program provides essential early childhood education, health care, and family support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged zero to five, preparing children for school and future success.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Topic: A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care Report
A new Productivity Commission report A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care, released on Wednesday 18 September, has outlined a comprehensive plan to create a high-quality, universal early childhood education and care system in Australia that is accessible, equitable, and inclusive for all children aged 0–5.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomes many of the recommendations of A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care report saying if implemented correctly it will be a potential game changer for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. CEO Catherine Liddle emphasised that the report recommendations, if put in place, could chart a very different course for many of our children and families. The Productivity Commission report supports what SNAICC has long advocated, recognising that Aboriginal community-controlled services provide the best outcomes for our children, so they are developmentally ready for school and enjoy better outcomes later in life. Catherine concluded that all we need now is the will of our political leaders to just do it. SNAICC is urging all levels of government to show bipartisan support and commit to enacting these reforms.
One of the key recommendations of the report is to ensure that every child has access to at least 30 hours of quality early childhood education and care per week, for 48 weeks a year, without financial barriers, particularly for low-income families. Associate Commissioner Deborah Brennan, who led the inquiry, said that children experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage benefit the most from quality early childhood education and care, but they are currently the least likely to attend. Abolishing the activity test, which ties childcare subsidies to the amount of work, study, or volunteering a family engages in, is central to the report’s recommendations. SNAICC has long been vocal that this test represents a significant barrier to early childhood access, particularly for children and families experiencing disadvantage. In addition, the report advocates for increasing the Child Care Subsidy for families earning up to $80,000 a year, ensuring full coverage of the hourly rate cap.
Commissioner Lisa Gropp highlighted the need for targeted investment to establish early childhood education and care services in regional and remote communities, addressing long-standing service gaps. Commissioner Martin Stokie added that achieving universal childcare would also require substantial investment in the early childhood education and care workforce, including better pay, improved career pathways, and professional development opportunities. Advocacy group The Parenthood echoed SNAICC’s support for the report, with CEO Georgie Dent describing it as a landmark document. Georgie Dent emphasised the need for legislative reforms to enshrine every child’s right to early education, ensuring it is genuinely affordable and accessible.
The report also builds on previous findings from SNAICC’s own work and presents a clear roadmap for reform, supported by the recent release of the federal government’s Early Years Strategy, which outlines a ten-year plan to give all children the best start in life.
For complete coverage, read our media release and news and media linked below.
Find out more about the reportArticle: Productivity Commission recommendations a “game changer” if governments “bold enough” for reform, SNAICC says NIT (released 18 September)
Excerpt:
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children said they welcomed the report and urged all jurisdictions to enact the recommendations.
Chief executive Catherine Liddle said governments across the country had the chance to enact courageous reforms that will make significant inroads into closing the gap.
“The report recommendations, if put in place, could chart a very different course for many of our children and families,” Ms Liddle said.
“The Productivity Commission acknowledges the particular barriers facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families in accessing culturally safe, sustainable, quality ECEC and recognises the life-changing benefits of being able to access these services.”
Read the full article
Article: Early education and care for every child, says PC Government News (released 18 September)
Excerpt:
“The report recommendations, if put in place, could chart a very different course for many of our children and families,” CEO Catherine Liddle said.
“The Productivity Commission report supports what SNAICC has long advocated – that Aboriginal community-controlled services provide the best outcomes for our children so they are developmentally ready for school and enjoy better outcomes in later life.”
“All we need now is the will of our political leaders to just do it,” she added.
Read the full article
Topic: Northern Territory criminal responsibility age
This week, Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro reaffirmed her government’s plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10, saying that the move aligns with their mandate to reduce crime by intervening early, and insisting that the Country Liberal Party’s approach reflects the ‘will of the electorate’.
However, the NT youth justice reforms continue to be widely critised by several organisations, advocates, legal experts and human rights groups, including Catherine Liddle in her op-ed Locking children up not way to bring down crime published on Sunday 15 September by the NT News. Catherine argues that the government’s tough-on-crime stance fails to address the deeper, underlying issues contributing to youth crime and is not supported by evidence. She highlights the contradiction in societal views where children up to 16 are now deemed too immature to use social media responsibly but are considered criminally responsible from as young as 10. Catherine points out that the punitive measures do not reduce crime; rather, they increase the likelihood of reoffending and expose vulnerable children to trauma and inadequate rehabilitation.
The Productivity Commission has also weighed in this week, criticising the NT government’s decision as a regressive step. Commissioners Natalie Siegel-Brown and Selwyn Button argue that lowering the age of criminal responsibility exacerbates the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in detention and contradicts efforts to close the gap in incarceration rates. They stress that evidence shows early contact with the justice system increases future offending, not community safety. NT Child Commissioner Shahleena Musk and opposition leader Selena Uibo share similar concerns. Musk warns that the proposed punitive measures, including the reintroduction of spit hoods, will harm rather than help, while Uibo advocates for investing in education, frontline services, and job pathways to prevent youth crime.
Catherine Liddle and SNAICC continue to call on the NT government to abandon punitive approaches and instead adopt a culturally informed and evidence-based strategy. She urges the government to focus on prevention, early intervention, and support systems that address the root causes of youth crime and promote long-term safety and rehabilitation.
For complete coverage, read our media release and news and media linked below.
Article: NT Chief Minister doubles down on plans to lower age of criminal responsibility NIT (released 17 September)
Excerpt:
SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children chief executive, Catherine Liddle, criticised the decision and ABC Breakfast on Tuesday saying: “Jailing doesn’t work”.
“There is no evidence anywhere that putting children into juvenile detention decreases the crime rate,” she said.
“In actual fact, all the studies show that those children are the ones more likely to reoffend; those children are more likely to be part of the criminal justice system forever.
“The younger you are coming into contact with those justice systems, the more likely you are to never get out of them.”
Ms Liddle said it wasn’t about not punishing people committing crimes, but rather getting rid of detention centres and investing in other alternatives was proven to lower the crime rate.
Read the full article
Article: Productivity Commission accuses NT of going backwards on youth crime policy (released 17 September) [paywall]
Excerpt:
The Productivity Commission has accused the Northern Territory Government of going backwards with policies that will lead to more youth crime and higher Indigenous incarceration rates.
Writing in the national broadsheet on Monday, commissioners Natalie Siegel-Brown and Selwyn Button said plans to lower the age of criminal responsibility were “actively putting the truck in reverse”.
“Why now step so far backwards, after finally making a step forward (by raising the age last year)? Especially after the compelling Northern Territory Royal Commission,” they said in The Australian.
Read the full article (please note: paywall)
Topic: Connected Beginnings program expands to Tulmur/Ipswich
The Australian Government announced this week the expansion of the Connected Beginnings program with Kummara to deliver the program in Tulmur/Ipswich on Yagara Country in Queensland.
$2.9 million in funding will support Kummara to establish the new site in Tulmur/Ipswich, supporting up to 1900 local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families by connecting them with early childhood education, health and family support services to ensure a smooth transition to school. Connected Beginnings provides essential early childhood education, health care, and family support services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged zero to five. By doing so, it hopes to ensure that our children meet important developmental milestones and, once fully implemented, the program has the potential to serve up to 20% of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged zero to five.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly praised the program for its role in improving developmental outcomes and contributing to Closing the Gap targets. She emphasised that all children, regardless of their background, should benefit from quality early childhood education and care. Assistant Minister Ged Kearney highlighted the program’s focus on community involvement and its impact on setting our children up for a positive start in life.
Catherine Liddle praised the Connected Beginnings program as an exemplary model of effective community involvement. She noted that Kummara’s efforts in community will significantly enhance access to early childhood, maternal, and child health services for nearly 2,000 children. Catherine emphasised the importance of community-led initiatives in improving developmental outcomes, citing existing Connected Beginnings sites where there have been significant increases in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children meeting developmental milestones. This approach, she noted, is crucial for preparing children for school and future success.
Kummara CEO Dr Gerald Featherstone echoed these sentiments, stressing the program’s commitment to integrating early childhood education, health, and family support services. He highlighted the program’s role in closing the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children.
For complete coverage, read the news and media linked below.
Media Release: Ensuring First Nations children in Queensland are school ready (released 17 September)
Excerpt:
“Through this program, Kummara Limited will create initiatives that improve access to existing early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services to benefit almost 2,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Ipswich,” Ms Liddle said.
“It’s an excellent example of what can be achieved when you listen and involve community. At existing Connected Beginnings sites, we have seen a significant increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children on track in all five Australian early development census domains, so they are ready to thrive at big school and beyond.”
Read the full Media Release
Article: $2.9 million for Kummara Limited to deliver Connected Beginnings (released 20 September)
Excerpt:
“Through this program, Kummara Limited will create initiatives that improve access to existing early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services to benefit almost 2,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Ipswich,” SNAICC Chief Executive Catherine Liddle said.
“It’s an excellent example of what can be achieved when you listen and involve community. At existing Connected Beginnings sites, we have seen a significant increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children on track in all five Australian early development census domains, so they are ready to thrive at big school and beyond.”
The Government partners with SNAICC National Voice for our Children and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to deliver the program, which is a community led initiative which is a key contributor to the early childhood Closing the Gap targets, driving an increase in preschool enrolments and improvements to developmental outcomes.
Read the full article