What is Early Years Support?
Early Years Support was established in 2021 to ensure high-impact early childhood and development services are provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families across Australia.
The program plays a pivotal role in the advocacy, development and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early childhood services in the state governments of New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria. This setup is instrumental in expanding the influence and reach of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years sector in making significant progress on resource and workforce development, compliance support, support for remote communities, funding and advocacy for our children, families and communities.
The structure of the program is designed to respond to local priorities, tailoring its efforts to strengthen various aspects of service provision. This includes the refinement of service design and governance, improving service delivery, ensuring compliance with quality standards and focusing on workforce development and training in order to build capacity. Additionally, the program offers invaluable assistance in securing sustainable funding, ensuring that these crucial services can continue to thrive and meet the needs of our children, families and communities.
Early Years Support is a driving force behind the empowerment and enhancement of community-controlled early years services operated by Aboriginal communities.
Our Role
Early Years Support is in three key state-wide intermediaries across New South Wales, Western Australia and Victoria.
Through the EYS program, SNAICC actively engages with both Commonwealth and pilot state governments and services. This engagement serves two primary purposes: to advocate for the needs and priorities of community-controlled early years services and to establish vital partnerships that strengthen the collective voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
In each jurisdiction, SNAICC takes a proactive approach in facilitating a co-design process alongside community-controlled early years services operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This approach ensures that the support and services provided are tailored to the specific needs and priorities of each locality. In doing so, Early Years Support encourages local ownership, leadership and self-determination, empowering our communities to steer their own path towards a brighter future.
Please note: This program was previously known as THRYVE.
The importance of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations in early learning
Watch educational leaders Sophie Collins and Casey Brown from Perridak Burron, Yirram Burron and Yaluk Burron Early Learning discuss the importance of Aboriginal community-controlled education and care.
The Perridak Burron, Yirram Burron and Yaluk Burron Early Learning Centres are Aboriginal community-owned and operated not-for-profit education and care services designed specifically for the Indigenous community of Ballarat. These Centres provide children with affordable, high-quality education and care delivered by an expert team of qualified educators, with an emphasis on Culture, Education and Community.
Contact information
If you would like to get in touch with the Early Years Support offices, the Directors of each state are listed below:
- NSW – Director, Renee Moore (renee.leslie@snaicc.org.au)
- VIC – Director, Simon Fewings (simon.fewings@snaicc.org.au)
- WA – Director, Janenell Kennedy (janenell.kennedy@snaicc.org.au)
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