Programs
Connected Beginnings
Connected Beginnings is an Australian Government grants program that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children get the best start in life.
Connected Beginnings
CCCFR Expansion Program
The CCCFR Expansion Program aims to establish new early childhood education and care services in mainly remote and very remote areas to increase participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in culturally appropriate early childhood education and care.
CCCFR Expansion Program
Early Years Support
Early Years Support is a program to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early years services in providing high-quality, responsive, accessible and culturally strong supports for our children, families and communities.
Early Years Support
First Nations Playgroups
The First Nations Playgroups Pilot Program is an Australian Government funding initiative to support Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in the delivery of new culturally informed and community-led playgroups in community.
First Nations Playgroups
Our Role
Every child deserves a solid foundation in life. Our dedication to Early Childhood Development plays an important role in ensuring that all of our children receive the best possible start for lifelong learning and success.
Our work in the Early Childhood Development sector is critical in developing effective Early Years programs, services and other critical supports and ensuring that they are made available and put into practice for our children across Australia. We apply research, policy reform and sector development to raise the standard, accessibility and sustainability of culturally safe Early Childhood & Care services for children and families across Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Early Childhood Education & Care services are particularly important as they build and reinforce positive self-identity while supporting the wellbeing of children and families experiencing vulnerability in the community. The services and supports that our work develops and advocates for prioritise access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are not currently receiving – or are unlikely to receive – mainstream services and overcome many of the identified service access barriers that our families experience.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Early Childhood Development Case Studies
From 2020 to 2021, SNAICC identified good practices in early intervention and family support programs delivered by Aboriginal community-controlled organisations across Australia.
These profiles show how Aboriginal community-controlled organisations are achieving positive Early Childhood Development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families, keeping these children safe from harm, protecting their right to grow up within their own family and community and providing critical health and early education services.
Read the Doing It Our Way – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention profiles below.
Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service – The Kids Team
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for the Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service's The Kids Team program.
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Central Australian Aboriginal Congress – Child and Youth Assessment and Treatment Service
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress' Child and Youth Assessment and Treatment Service.
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Central Australian Aboriginal Congress – Family Support Service
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress' Family Support Service.
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Gumala Aboriginal Corporation – 3a Playgroups
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for Gumala Aboriginal Corporation's 3a Playgroups.
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IUIH, ATSICHS & Mater Mothers’ Hospital – Birthing in Our Community
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for the Urban Indigenous Health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Brisbane and Mater Mothers' Hospital's Birthing in Our Community program.
Download
Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation – Intensive Supported Playgroups
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for Maari Ma's Intensive Supported Playgroups.
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Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service – Yamani Meta Family Wellbeing House
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service's Yamani Meta Family Wellbeing House.
Download
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency – Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for VACCA's Aboriginal Cradle to Kinder.
Download
Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency – Koorie Kids Supported Playgroups
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for VACCA's Koorie Kids.
Download
Waminda – Nabu Aboriginal family preservation and restoration program
February 2022
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led early intervention 'Doing It Our Way' case study for Waminda South Coast Women's Health and Welfare Aboriginal Corporation's Nabu Aboriginal family preservation and restoration program.
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Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service – Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program
February 2022
Early intervention program profile for Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service's Australian Nurse-Family Partnership Program.
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Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 2 Workplan Summary
September 2024
Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 2 Workplan Summary identifies the agreed actions the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership will take to support its objectives, which include priorities and actions to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Download Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership Annual Report 2023
August 2024
Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership Annual Report 2023 detailing the achievements and progress of the Partnership in its first 16 months of operation, from its establishment in August 2022 to November 2023.
Download Evidence on optimal hours of ECEC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
July 2024
Evidence on optimal hours of ECEC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Literature Review commissioned by the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership, undertaken by Dandolopartners with Wiradjuri researcher, educator and board director Dr Jessa Rogers.
Download Funding Model Options for ACCO Integrated Early Years Services Final Report
May 2024
Funding Model Options for ACCO Integrated Early Years Services Final Report presents findings and recommendations so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have access to high-quality, culturally safe ECEC services that meet their developmental and wellbeing needs through needs-based funding model options that support the viable operation of ACCO early years service providers.
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SNAICC 2024-25 Pre-budget Submission to the Australian Government
February 2024
In SNAICC 2024-25 Pre-budget Submission, we call on the Australian Government to bring to life the commitments they have made through the National Agreement on Closing the Gap by investing in the policy reform, programs and structural change needed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to heal and to thrive.
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Family Matters Report 2023
November 2023
Family Matters Report 2023 shows that child protection systems continue to fail Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, with the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children entering out-of-home care continuing to rise, exposing them to ongoing harm and trauma. This report highlights, in particular, Aboriginal-led solutions to what is working best for our children and communities.
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Family Matters Report 2023 Report Card
November 2023
The Family Matters Report 2023 Report Card shows the jurisdictional progress being made on the four Family Matters Building Blocks.
Download Family Matters Report 2023 Data Snapshot
November 2023
Family Matters 2023 Report Data Snapshot shows key data from Family Matters 2023 Report and calls for investment in community-led solutions to eliminate the over-representation of our children in out-of-home care.
Download Kids Come First: The Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations Leadership Transition Framework
August 2023
Kids Come First: The Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations Leadership Transition Framework is designed to assist leaders in Connected Beginnings communities. The framework aims to guide the transition of the Connected Beginnings backbone role from non-Indigenous organisations to ACCOs where there is agreement and support from the community.
Download Agreement to Implement the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership
August 2023
Agreement to Implement the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership. Partnership Agreement to improve outcomes under Closing the Gap for Early Childhood Care and Development established by the Joint Council on Closing the Gap under the Authority of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Download Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 1 Workplan Summary
May 2023
Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 1 Workplan Summary identifies the agreed actions the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership will take to support its objectives, which include progress initial priorities to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Download Family Matters Data Snapshot 2022
November 2022
Data snapshot on the Family Matters 2022 annual report.
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