Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership Strategic Plan 2026–2028
July 2026
Overview
The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (ECCDPP, the Partnership) was established under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement) in 2022 to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The Partnership brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders with all Australian governments to develop shared recommendations on matters that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Having everyone at the same table shifts more power to communities and supports more collaborative, effective solutions. The ECCDPP meets four times a year to progress this work.
The first three years (2022–2025)
In its first three years, the Partnership focused on establishing strong foundations and driving early progress. As shared decision-making represents a new and different way of working, it took time for the ECCDPP to build the relationships, processes and trust to function well. This included creating space for challenging conversations and government members demonstrating a willingness to shift traditional approaches to working and making decisions with communities.
The Partnership initially agreed on six priorities to guide its work. These were then expanded, and the ECCDPP is now guided by 16 priorities. Collectively, these priorities capture important changes that are needed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
One of the strengths of the ECCDPP is the way it works with other forums to influence policy development, and to ensure the voices of communities are helping to drive progress for children. In the first three years, the Partnership’s work contributed to reforms that will have significant impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This included the establishment of the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, as well as the replacement of the Child Care Subsidy Activity Test with the 3 Day Guarantee – under which families caring for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child are eligible for 100 hours of subsidised early childhood education and care per fortnight for each Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child.
The next three years – 2026–2028 strategic plan
Now in its second term of operation, the Partnership is a well-established shared decision-making forum with strong relationships and ways of working. Over the next three years, it will continue to strengthen these foundations with an unwavering focus on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
This will see the ECCDPP:
- expand the evidence base to progress agreed Partnership priorities, including those relating to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) funding, the child and family services workforce, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families with disability
- strengthen collaboration with other policy partnerships and governance bodies, including Safe and Supported, to drive action and advance progress against Target 12 (reducing the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care)
- leverage opportunities to shape and inform cross-cutting reforms that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- identify opportunities to refine Partnership operations in response to reviews, including the independent evaluation of the ECCDPP’s first term.
Part of being a strong shared decision-making forum means acknowledging challenges and working collaboratively to address them. For example, one challenge that has been repeatedly raised by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the ECCDPP is that governments’ decision-making processes can slow the Partnership’s work and progress.
Guided by the independent evaluation of the ECCDPP, the Partnership is navigating through known challenges, and this forms a key part of this Strategic Plan. However, it is important to recognise that resolving all identified challenges will necessitate broader changes by government, which sit outside the control and remit of the ECCDPP members.
The 2026–2028 Strategic Plan builds on what the Partnership has achieved to date and provides a path forward to address challenges and strengthen its impact. In 2026, the Partnership will focus on continuing to push forward existing work from the first three years, while setting up the structures for long-term success. By 2027, the Partnership will be more mature and influential, and will be embedded across the early childhood policy landscape as a forum for decision-making about early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
In 2028, the Partnership will take stock of its work to date and make any changes needed to ensure it can keep delivering for children into the future. The Partnership will also have a workplan each year. The workplan provides more detail on the actions the Partnership will take to deliver the ECCDPP priorities, guided by the Strategic Plan. Together, these documents support the Partnership to continue delivering a new way of working and support stronger, more positive change to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.