SNAICC in the News – Continued funding for SNAICC’s Early Years Support & Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership

For the week of 16 December 2024, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomed the confirmation of continued funding for its Early Years Support program and an $11.4 million extension of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership.

The Early Years Support (EYS) and Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (ECCDPP) funding were confirmed in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), with SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle praising the programs for their focus on the early childhood development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children pointing towards the emphasis on community-driven support and strong partnerships. Catherine also spoke of the transformative impact of these services, stressing that Closing the Gap begins with children and the services that support them.

The Federal Government has also announced funding for initiatives aimed at improving inclusion for people living with disability, with a particular focus on First Nations children and their families. SNAICC and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) will receive funding to support First Nations children living with disability, their families and the early childhood education workforce.

Catherine Liddle appeared on the 7am Podcast this week to talk about Alice Springs’ youth crime crisis. She criticised punitive measures such as spit hoods and lowering the age of criminal responsibility as ineffective, instead advocating for diversionary programs that address the root causes of crime, such as poverty and trauma, and pointed towards the importance of community-led solutions and increased Australian Government support.

In an article released by IBNews this week, Catherine reflected on a successful 2024 for SNAICC, pointing to key recent achievements including the launch of the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan and the 2024 Family Matters Report, which showcased the strengths of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in delivering out-of-home care services. SNAICC also hosted two major national gatherings—the Early Years Support National Gathering and the Connected Beginnings National Gathering—bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations from across Australia. These events were crucial in sharing strategies for supporting children and families, and SNAICC is now preparing for the 11th National SNAICC Conference on Yuggera/Turrbal Country in Meanjin in 2025.

On 19 December, Catherine Liddle appeared on ABC News Breakfast discussing the importance of educational milestones for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Catherine took the opportunity to stress the need for proactive solutions to ensure children feel safe and supported in school, and spoke of concerns about rising incarceration rates in the Northern Territory and called for improved social services to prevent children from entering the justice system. Catherine also spotlighted Gooniyandi-Miriwong Kadjerong man Scott Wilson’s creation of the Indigiverse, a superhero comic book series grounded in Aboriginal culture. Through his work, Wilson aims to provide an inspiring, culturally connected narrative that empowers young people to stay connected to their culture.

For more complete coverage, find the news stories linked below.

Topic: Continued funding for SNAICC’s Early Years Support & ECCDPP

This week, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed the Federal Government’s measures outlined in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, describing the budget as a win for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) confirms continued funding for SNAICC’s Early Years Support (EYS) program and an $11.4 million extension of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (ECCDPP) for three years until June 2028.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle praised both the EYS program and the ECCDPP for their focus on strengthening early childhood development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. She spoke on how these initiatives provide tailored, community-driven support and foster genuine partnerships. The EYS program works with 72 Aboriginal community-controlled organisations across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, supporting more than 2,100 children and families by delivering high-quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education. Catherine spoke about the transformative impact of the program, emphasising that Closing the Gap starts with children and the services that support them. She said that these services must be operationally strong, well-resourced and represented at the highest levels of government to ensure children thrive in their early years.

Catherine also spoke on the significance of the ECCDPP, a partnership between the federal and jurisdictional governments and First Nations representatives, co-chaired by SNAICC and the Australian Government. She described the partnership as a key driver behind critical policy reforms, including the scrapping of the activity test and investment in early learning centres in regional and remote areas. These reforms, she said, will directly benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families by supporting community-led early childhood care and development outcomes.

Catherine emphasised the crucial role of collaboration and community leadership in these initiatives, stating that programs like EYS and partnerships like the ECCDPP not only support vital services but also lay the foundation for a brighter future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. She said that this funding is essential for sustaining these services and advancing progress towards Closing the Gap.

For complete coverage, find the linked media release and news stories below.

Topic: Catherine Liddle on 7am Podcast

This week, Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC appeared on the 7am Podcast to discuss the underlying issues contributing to the youth crime crisis in Alice Springs.

On the podcast, Catherine Liddle discusses the youth crime crisis in Alice Springs and spoke on the impact of recent violent incidents. Catherine delves into the fact that the current punitive approaches, such as the return of spit hoods and lowering the age of criminal responsibility, are ineffective and harmful. She advocates for diversionary programs that focus on addressing the root causes of crime, like poverty and trauma, and stresses the need for community-led solutions. Catherine also calls for more Australian Government support and needs-based funding to address systemic issues in the Northern Territory.

For complete coverage, listen to the full podcast linked below.

Topic: Catherine Liddle reflects on a year full of achievements at SNAICC

This week, Catherine Liddle reflected on a year of significant achievements and progress for SNAICC in 2024, in an article featured on IBNews.

Catherine expressed immense pride in the team’s work, with a key recent highlight being the unveiling of SNAICC’s 2025-2028 Strategic Plan, presented with a dynamic animation outlining the organisation’s priorities. November also saw the launch of the 2024 Family Matters Report, which highlighted the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations in delivering out-of-home care services.

SNAICC hosted two important gatherings—the Early Years Support National Gathering and Connected Beginnings National Gathering—bringing together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations from across Australia to share experiences and strategies for supporting children and families. Additionally, SNAICC’s Community Partner team has been actively engaging with communities on initiatives like First Nations Playgroups. Looking ahead, SNAICC is preparing for the 11th National SNAICC Conference in Meanjin/Brisbane in 2025.

For complete coverage, find the linked article below.

Topic: Disability Dialogue to support First Nations Children and their families

The Federal Government has announced funding for several initiatives aimed at improving inclusion, information and connection for people living with disability, including a significant focus on First Nations children and their families.

The Disability Dialogue, an Early Childhood Outreach Initiative aimed at supporting First Nations children and their families, is one of several programs funded by the Federal Government to improve information, inclusion and connection for people living with disability. SNAICC and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) will also receive funding to assist First Nations children living with disability, their families and the early childhood education and care workforce.

Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth spoke on the importance of these initiatives as part of broader efforts in Australia’s Disability Strategy and the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. The Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program will invest over $31 million to support 26 organisations in building capacity for people with disability, their families and carers, with an additional $11.1 million allocated for community participation activities. Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill Shorten said that these initiatives aim to foster inclusion and ensure the disability community plays a central role in policy reform.

For complete coverage, find the linked article below.

Topic: Catherine Liddle on ABC News Breakfast

In a recent ABC News Breakfast appearance on Thursday 19 December, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle discussed the importance of celebrating educational milestones for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children while addressing the systemic challenges they face.

Catherine discussed the significance of completing Year 12 especially for students who are the first in their families to graduate. She pointed towards a New South Wales Department of Education statistic that shows a record 2,265 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in Year 12 this year, up from 2,085 in 2021, many of whom may be first-generation graduates from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. Catherine then addressed a concerning ABC News report on chronic student absences in Ilperrelhelame/Alpurrurulam in the Northern Territory due to safety and support issues. She said that such absences reflect deeper systemic problems and called for proactive solutions to ensure all children, particularly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, feel safe and supported in school.

Catherine also discussed the rising incarceration rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory, speaking about the overcrowding in adult prisons and the government’s proposal to move adult prisoners into juvenile detention centres like Don Dale. She criticised this approach, saying that the criminal justice system alone cannot address the root causes of crime. Catherine pointed towards studies that show early contact with the justice system often leads to a cycle of criminal behaviour and called for the need for improved social services to prevent children from entering the system.

Catherine put into spotlight the work of Gooniyandi-Miriwong Kadjerong man Scott Wilson and his creation of the Indigiverse. Inspired by a lack of representation in comic books, Scott’s superheroes draw their power from the Dreamtime and totems, speak in language and are grounded in culture. While studying anthropology at university, Scott developed the Indigiverse, eventually creating Dark Heart. The story follows a hero displaced from his homeland who, upon arriving in Gadigal land, must rely on his cultural knowledge and language to succeed. With co-founder Benny Eggmolesse, Scott plans to expand the Indigiverse into an animated series, figurines and a movie. Through his work, Scott hopes to help young people stay connected to their culture offering them heroes who embody resilience, community and cultural pride. Find out more from articles by the National Indigenous Times and ABC News.