SNAICC Early Years Support Evaluation – Final Report

Deloitte Access Economics Executive Summary

Introduction 

This summarises the key findings from Deloitte’s independent SNAICC Early Years Support Evaluation, covering the period of January to July 2025. The evaluation is grounded in the direct feedback and experiences of the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Early Years Services. It highlights the program’s significant achievements while also identifying strategic areas for future development to strengthen its impact. 

Key Successes and Program Strengths 

The evaluation confirmed that the EYS program is a highly valued and effective initiative delivering substantial support to ACCO Early Years Services. The program’s greatest strengths are: 

• Building Trust and Culturally Safe Relationships: Services consistently described the program as a trusted and culturally respectful partner. This foundation of trust is the primary enabler of its success, with 86% of surveyed services agreeing that it has built strong relationships. 

• Reducing Isolation and Strengthening Connections: By facilitating network meetings and gatherings, the program has created a stronger, more connected ACCO sector, effectively reducing the sense of services “working alone” and fostering a powerful sense of shared community. 

• Improving Service Quality: Tailored, responsive support has directly contributed to tangible improvements in service quality, stronger cultural practices and increased confidence in meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard. 

• Effective Advocacy and Representation: The program has successfully amplified the collective voice of ACCO services, effectively influencing government policy and creating new opportunities for sector representation in key forums. 

• Practical Operational Support: Services reported significant benefits from back-office assistance, including compliance, administration, workforce development and funding support, which has reduced the administrative burden on service leaders. 

Areas for Development and Strategic Focus 

The evaluation also identified clear opportunities to refine the program to enhance its effectiveness as it continues to mature: 

• Ensuring Greater Consistency Across States: The program is most established in NSW and Victoria. A key priority is to address the implementation lag in Western Australia to ensure its impact is felt consistently across all jurisdictions. 

• Tailoring Support for Established Services: Some mature services reported that support felt less tailored over time. There is an opportunity to evolve the support model to meet the distinct strategic needs of services at different stages of their development. 

• Managing Leadership and Staff Transitions: Changes in key staff had mixed impacts on service relationships, highlighting the importance of strategies to maintain continuity and safeguard relationships during any staff turnover. 

• Clarifying the Program’s Offerings: While progress has been made, some services still seek clearer and more consistent communication about the full scope of EYS supports available. 

Conclusion 

The 2025 evaluation confirms that the SNAICC Early Years Support program is making a significant and positive difference. The program is successfully strengthening service quality, building cultural safety and amplifying the collective voice of the ACCO sector. 

These findings provide a clear pathway forward. By building on its foundational strengths and focusing on the identified areas for development particularly in ensuring consistency, tailoring support and managing transitions. The EYS program is well-positioned to evolve, grow and deliver lasting benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.