Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership Annual Report 2025
July 2026
Overview
The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (the Partnership/ECCDPP) was established in August 2022 under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement) to drive transformative action to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
The Partnership completed its initial three-year term in 2025 and commenced its second three-year term after receiving funding in late 2024, which extended operations through to mid-2028. The funding extension reflects the progress achieved to date and the importance of continuing efforts to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families are supported to thrive.
The Partnership held four in-person meetings across Australia in its third full calendar year of operation. During this time, the Partnership advanced work across 16 priorities, with a strong focus on Closing the Gap Target 12, which relates to reducing the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care. The Partnership strengthened collaboration with other shared decision-making forums, including other Policy Partnerships, Safe and Supported governance and the Early Childhood Policy Group, to align priorities, reduce siloes and accelerate reform.
This year, the Partnership continued to focus on progressing funding reform for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) delivering integrated early years services and child and family services. This is in recognition that sustainable funding is essential for ACCOs to deliver the supports children need and play their role as vehicles for self-determination. The Partnership worked with governments to deliver implementation advice on new funding models for ACCO integrated early years services. The Partnership also commissioned SNAICC to develop funding model options for ACCOs delivering child and family services, with research due to be completed in early 2026.
In November, the Partnership presented its second set of recommendations to the Joint Council on Closing the Gap (Joint Council), reinforcing its role in shaping national policy. Joint Council noted key projects the ECCDPP has underway and agreed that the Partnership should continue to collaborate with Safe and Supported governance to drive progress towards Closing the Gap Target 12.
The Partnership progressed work on major projects, including the Evidence Guidance Framework, which is expected to be finalised in 2026. SNAICC also developed the Shared Decision-Making Guidance as part of their role as ECCDPP Co-Chair. This guidance provides a valuable tool to support shared decision-making in the early childhood sector and beyond.
The influence of the Partnership’s priorities was reflected in significant announcements. We welcomed the appointment of Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter as Australia’s first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People – a landmark step in elevating the voices of children and families. In December 2024, the Australian Government committed to a major reform: from the 5 January 2026, all Child Care Subsidy (CCS) eligible families will be entitled to at least 72 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care (ECEC) per fortnight, per eligible child, regardless of their activity levels. Families caring for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child will be eligible for 100 hours of subsidised ECEC per fortnight, lifting the current baseline entitlement from 36 hours. [1] This reform strongly aligns with ECCDPP’s priorities and research, and reflects the collective advocacy of the sector and SNAICC.
To support accountability and continuous improvement, the ECCDPP commissioned yamagigu Consulting to conduct an independent evaluation of the ECCDPP, due to be finalised in early 2026. The Partnership also engaged with the findings and recommendations from the Independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Review of Closing the Gap along with the Australian National Audit Office audit of Closing the Gap in early childhood development and schooling, which provide valuable insights to guide future work.
The Partnership has focused on communicating its work within governments and the ACCO sector, and more broadly to the public and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This has included regular updates on Partnership meetings through Department of Education and SNAICC communication channels. ECCDPP members provided an overview of the ECCDPP’s work to representatives from ACCOs at the SNAICC Conference in October 2025 and Catherine has regularly spoken in the media about how the Partnership’s work helps progress Closing the Gap.
Throughout 2025, the Partnership reflected on how members work together, acknowledging progress while recognising the ongoing challenge of addressing power imbalances and accelerating reform within government systems. This progress was made possible through the consistent contributions of members to workshops, meetings, and out-of-session work, which strengthened relationships and built shared understanding of this important work.
In 2025, ECCDPP meetings were held across Australia, and we acknowledge and thank the Traditional Owners who welcomed us onto their lands: the Noongar, Gadigal, Wurundjeri, and Ngunnawal Peoples.
Looking ahead, the Partnership will continue to build on these foundations, driving reforms that place Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their wellbeing at the centre of all we do.