SNAICC in the News – Early Years Strategy launched
On Tuesday 7 May, the Australian Government unveiled its ten-year Early Years Strategy aimed at prioritising and supporting the growth and development of young children aged 0-5.
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children expressed our support for the Early Years Strategy, emphasising its alignment with efforts to ensure universal access to quality early childhood education and care. Emphasising a whole-of-Commonwealth approach, the Strategy outlines four priority areas: valuing the early years, empowering parents and families, supporting communities and enhancing accountability and coordination.
As a member of the Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle highlighted the need for fully resourced action and, in particular, making early childhood education and care services more accessible for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The Strategy’s recognition of the importance of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in delivering services was also welcomed by SNAICC. The Aboriginal community-controlled sector has done an enormous amount of work over the years, informed by community, about what needs to be done and what makes a difference in preparing children and families to thrive in their early years. SNAICC continues to emphasise the need to address the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, as well as the crucial role of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in supporting our children’s development and wellbeing.
Ministers Amanda Rishworth and Dr Anne Aly emphasised the significance of the early years in a child’s development and the potential of the Strategy to create an integrated approach to support children’s wellbeing, education and development. The Early Years Strategy represents a comprehensive effort to prioritise early childhood development and ensure that all children have an opportunity to thrive.
For complete coverage, read the news and media stories linked below.
Read our Media ReleaseMedia Release: Early Years Strategy to provide Australia’s children with the best start possible – The Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Youth (released 7 May)
Excerpt:
Read the full Media Release[The Early Years Strategy] development was guided by an expert 14-member Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel including children’s entertainer Emma Watkins, child health expert Professor Fiona Stanley and CEO of SNAICC Catherine Liddle.
Article: SNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomes new national strategy on early education – NIT (released 7 May)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleSNAICC – National Voice for our Children welcomed the federal government’s release on Tuesday of the first Early Years Strategy (EYS).
The peak body for [Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander] children said the strategy reflected the government’s “commitment to ensuring universal access to quality early childhood education and care”.
SNAICC chief executive Catherine Liddle, who was a member of the EYS Advisory Panel, said the strategy recognised the importance of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in delivering services that ensure thriving children, families and communities.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and organisations now look forward to seeing fully resourced action to realise the vison of the EYS,” Ms Liddle said.
Article: What is the government’s new plan for Australian children’s early years? – The Mandarin (released 7 May)
Excerpt:
Read the full article“Today’s launch is another important step towards reaching our vision of an Australia where all children are able to thrive right into adulthood — building on our ‘cheaper child care’ reforms, which have made early learning more affordable for over 1 million families right across the country.”
The evidence-based strategy was developed under the guidance of a 14-member expert advisory panel including Professor Fiona Stanley, SNAICC CEO Professor Fiona Stanley and children’s entertainer Emma Watkins.
Article: 10 year road map to boost outcomes for Australia’s children – The Sector (released 7 May)
Excerpt:
Read the full articleThe strategy was guided by an expert 14-member Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel including children’s entertainer Emma Watkins, child health expert Professor Fiona Stanley and CEO of SNAICC Catherine Liddle.
Practical steps and to achieve the vision in the Strategy will be outlined in three Action Plans to be released over the ten-year lifetime of the document. The first will be released later this year, along with an Outcomes Framework.
Radio interview: SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle on Indigenous kids and new national plan for early childhood – SBS News (First Nations First) (released 17 May)
Excerpt:
Listen to the full interview“… a promise of universal access to… high quality early education and care for all children, I think you couldn’t ask for more than that.
This is something that not only SNAICC but early educators and anyone working in social services has been advocating for for a very, very long time.
We know that the best start in life starts with quality early education and care, so seeing the government lean in, commit to it and say ‘we’re going to improve the sector, we’re going to ensure that every child has the best start in life’ – this is a good thing.” – Catherine Liddle