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
Preamble
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap (the National Agreement) makes provision for the establishment of policy partnerships under Priority Reform One: Formal Partnerships and Shared Decision-Making. Policy partnerships are partnerships created for the purpose of working on discrete policy areas, such as education, health or housing (Clause 30, National Agreement).
The National Agreement states at Clause 38, that by 2022, the Joint Council will establish a joined-up approach to five policy priority areas, between the Commonwealth, states and territories and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. The five policy priority areas are:
- justice (adult and youth incarceration)
- social and emotional wellbeing (mental health)
- housing
- early childhood care and development
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.
The National Agreement states that policy partnerships should include the strong partnership elements articulated at Clause 32 unless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations choose not to pursue elements (Clause 35).
For the purpose of this Agreement to Implement, Early Childhood, Care and Development encompasses several sectors including early childhood education, child care, maternal and child health, child safety and children and families. Additionally, there will be intersecting areas of interest such as disability and housing.
A dedicated and coordinated approach in the early childhood development and care sectors is critical to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Increasing a child’s opportunities in their early years is foundational to improving outcomes across their life course. Supporting children and their families to thrive, and develop to meet their learning potential in the first five years of life, will set them up for future life opportunities and success in education, employment, long-term health and connection to community. This partnership builds on existing commitments under the National Agreement and strategies that have been developed in partnership with the early childhood development and care sector.