SNAICC welcomes commitments from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to make early learning and childcare a priority for his Government.
CEO Catherine Liddle said SNAICC is looking forward to working with the new Government to progress much needed policy reform to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have their needs and voices heard.
“It was heartening to see early years issues play such a prominent role in the election campaign, with major parties and independents committing to reform,” Ms Liddle said.
“While we very much welcome these broad commitments to issues such as universal access and more affordable childcare, these mainstream reforms must take into account the particular needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.”
“The current policies and systems just aren’t working for our families or our early leaning and support centres.
“SNAICC was very pleased to receive commitments from Mr Albanese during the campaign in response to our nine election priorities.
“He recognised the need for national leadership particularly given the deterioration in the numbers of children entering care.
“We were also pleased to note his commitment to working with SNAICC and the Coalition of Peaks to reduce the overrepresentation of our children in the child protection system.
“SNAICC looks forward to working with the new Labor Government to reform the early education, family services and out-of-home care systems to better support our children and families.”
SNAICC’S six priorities for reform:
- Investing in prevention and early support services for families through a new national program for ACCO-led integrated family support services.
- Legislating authority for a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children.
- Reforming the federal child care funding model to increase access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to culturally appropriate education and care.
- Establishing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood intermediaries in every state and territory in partnership with SNAICC to build the community-controlled early years sector.
- Planning and investment to build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce for child and family service delivery across the country.
- Long-term core funding to SNAICC to give future certainty as the national peak for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, and to engage in shared decision-making with governments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
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