What is Connected Beginnings?

Connected Beginnings aims to improve access to early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

The Connected Beginnings program supports children from birth to school age, and pregnant women, by strengthening the foundations for school readiness, wellbeing and learning. Through integrated, locally led approaches, Connected Beginnings helps close the gap in early childhood and educational outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and non-Indigenous children. This is achieved by sharing knowledge, building strong partnerships and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to lead and shape how local early childhood education, health and family support services work together.

Connected Beginnings operates in every state and territory with 50 sites across Australia supporting more than 24,800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Jointly funded by the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Aged Care, the program is delivered through a national network of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that provide culturally safe, place-based support for children and families. You can find information about Connected Beginnings sites, including locations and backbone organisations, through the national site map.

Each site is developed and delivered by backbone organisations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, health services, education providers and local community-controlled organisations, reflecting the diversity and strengths of communities across Australia. These backbone organisations have a dedicated team that works alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members, Elders and local organisations to co-design goals, priorities and solutions. This approach ensures Connected Beginnings sites:

• are led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,
• fund meaningful activities delivered in place and on Country, and
• support solutions that reflect the strengths, unique needs and aspirations of each community.

Through this community-led, collective approach, Connected Beginnings delivers strong, holistic support grounded in what works on the ground for children and families.

Our Role

SNAICC is the official Community Partner of Connected Beginnings.

Funded by the Department of Education, SNAICC supports the program nationally by:

• leading the scoping and establishment of new Connected Beginnings sites,
• providing tailored, ongoing support to existing sites to strengthen and embed community-led practice,
• testing ideas and responding to emerging challenges across the program, and
• facilitating shared learning, collaboration and networking across Connected Beginnings sites nationally.

SNAICC also co-chairs the Connected Beginnings Advisory Group, providing leadership across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years, child and maternal health, and place-based initiatives.

The aim of Connected Beginnings is to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s and families’ engagement with health and early childhood education and care services through better coordination and integration at the local level. Grant funding supports sites to bring together local services so children and families can access culturally appropriate support, including:

• maternal and child health services,
• early childhood education and care,
• family support services,
• preschools and schools, and
• local government and council services.

By leveraging the knowledge, leadership and expertise of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Connected Beginnings strengthens access to coordinated, culturally safe early childhood, maternal and family support services; supporting children to thrive from the earliest years.

Connected Beginnings is part of SNAICC’s broader early childhood development work, working alongside other national initiatives that aim to improve early years outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. These include Early Years Support and the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership. Our collective work aligns with national priorities under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, strengthening community control, shared decision-making and culturally safe services to achieve lasting improvements in early childhood development outcomes.