👋🏽 Werte,
I’m just taking a moment or two to reflect on 2025 as we head towards the end of the year. And what a year it has been.
A year defined by historic milestones, powerful advocacy, and the strengthening of our collective voice.
From seeing our long-standing advocacy efforts come to fruition in federal parliament to gathering for our largest-ever national conference, 2025 has been a year of momentum for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood and family support sectors.
Thank you all for coming, showing up, and sharing the incredible work that you do. Thank you for your deadly passion that gives us so much momentum. You really do put the wind in our sails.
Heading into 2026, it’s going to be a big year because we’ve got to get out in front of these reforms to make sure that they land in a way that you aspired.
So, here’s to wishing you all a happy holiday period. I hope it is safe. I hope it is restful. And thank you for doing all that you do in keeping our children loved up and safe and secure.
Family Matters 2025
Last week we launched the Family Matters 2025 report.
This is the tenth edition of Family Matters. Over the years, it has stood for truth-telling, amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and reminding us of what matters most: our children are strong, loved and full of potential.
Our children are loved deeply by their families, by Elders, by community, by culture. That love may not always be recognised within mainstream systems, but it is there in the way we raise our babies. It’s strong love and it’s shaping strong kids.
One example is Maari Ma Health’s Aboriginal-led, integrated early intervention model which brings together health, early learning and family supports across Far West NSW to create a culturally safe, one-stop hub for families.
Through playgroups, child health checks, GP services, counselling and wraparound family supports, Maari Ma removes barriers to access, builds belonging and confidence in children, and demonstrates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled, culturally strong services can prevent contact with statutory systems.
Another example, over in Garlambirla/Coffs Harbour, the Gumbaynggirr Giingana Freedom School places language, culture and Country at the core of learning. The video below shows how children who learn through language, song, story and on Country experiences strengthen identity, school readiness and attendance.
When kids grow up connected to culture, Country and community, they thrive. We’ve seen progress – more space for community-led solutions and cultural ways of doing but there’s still work ahead.
You can check out the findings of the report here.
Or read the report in full:
SNAICC’25
Back in October, more than 2000 delegates gathered in Meanjin/Brisbane for SNAICC’25, and together they made it the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conference in Australia.
We are excited to announce that SNAICC’27 will be held on Kaurna country, at the Adelaide Convention Centre (ACC) from the 14-16 September 2027.
We listened to your feedback.
SNAICC’27 will focus on creating a strong space for powerful conversations. We’ll also be working with the ACC team to transform some much-loved family recipes into catering for 2,500 delegates.
Thriving Kids a ‘Medicare moment’
In November, appearing before the parliamentary Inquiry, SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle described Thriving Kids as a “Medicare Moment”.
“This is an incredible moment of reform and if we get it right, this will be a Medicare moment for our children,” Ms Liddle said.
“The importance of this moment makes it essential that we get it right and that we don’t squander this chance and risk coming back here years down the track asking why it isn’t working.
Goodbye Activity Test
We started the year with a significant victory. In February, Parliament passed legislation to effectively remove the Child Care Subsidy Activity Test for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
SNAICC has long advocated that early education is a right, not a privilege reserved for working families.
Beginning on 5 January 2026, the Activity Test will be replaced with a guarantee of 100 hours of subsidised care per fortnight, which is a game-changer that will see thousands more of our children accessing quality early learning and getting developmentally ready for school.
Amplifying Voices: Youth Voice and SNAICC Yarns
In May, we launched our first-ever podcast, ‘Kids, Culture, Community – SNAICC Yarns’. This platform was created to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and share the stories, knowledge, and lived experiences of our communities across the airwaves.
Alongside the podcast, 2025 saw the formal launch of the SNAICC Youth Voice at our national conference, ensuring young people have a direct say in the policies that impact their lives.
Sign up for the Youth Voice Newsletter
If you want to get involved or learn more contact youth@snaicc.org.au.
A Historic Appointment: Our First National Commissioner
In August, we celebrated the appointment of Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter as Australia’s first National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People. We also recognise the work of Lil Gordon as the interim Commissioner from January – August 2025.
The National Commissioner will focus on protecting and promoting the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children and young people. The role will involve hearing directly from Indigenous young people and advocating for their rights.
This appointment realises a goal SNAICC has championed for years. Having a dedicated National Commissioner – especially a leader with such deep sector experience ensures that the rights and voices of our children are front and centre at the national level.
Celebrating Culture: National Children’s Day 2025
August 4 also marked our biggest National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day yet. Celebrated under the theme ‘Little Footsteps, Big Future’, we honoured the journeys our children take as they grow, guided by culture, community, and Country.
We were proud to have Gumbaynggirr and Bundjalung man Otis Hope Carey as our 2025 Ambassador, who joined us on Gumbaynggirr Country at Kulai Aboriginal Preschool for our official national launch. The scale of engagement this year was truly inspiring:
- More than 20,000 Children’s Day bags were distributed to children across Australia, featuring the book I Saw We Saw in partnership with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
- Over 500 community events were registered nationwide, from morning teas in remote communities to large festivals in capital cities.
It was a day of joy and pride that reinforced our shared commitment to raising our children strong in their identity.
Advocating for the Sector: Wages and Budget
Throughout 2025, SNAICC continued to fight for a sustainable and fair sector. We backed key measures in the Federal Budget that support early childhood education but also advocated for specific support for the ACCO sector to ensure our services can remain sustainable while delivering these well-deserved pay rises to our workforce.
Thank you to all our members and partners for your tireless work this year. Together, we are building a future where our children grow up safe, strong, and connected to culture. We look forward to continuing this vital work in 2026.
Workplace Retention Grant Assistance
Running an ACCO early childhood is no easy feat, and SNAICC’s EYS and National Workforce team are working hard to help you strengthen the deadly services you deliver.
If you’re an ACCO ECEC provider, we can help you access the Workplace Retention Payment (WRP) grant, which is available to apply for until 30th September 2026.
This can mean an additional $160 a week extra for your dedicated staff.
We know this process can feel overwhelming, but SNAICC’s team is here to guide you every step of the way.
If you need help with your application, please contact SNAICC or please contact your EYS advisor.
Otherwise, please contact SNAICC’s National Workforce Advisor at workforce@snaicc.org.au for support.
Information about the WRP grant can also be found on the Australian Government Department of Education website.
Updates on changes to leadership at SNAICC
With SNAICC’s work expanding and more opportunities opening in 2026, we have created a new business unit called Child Development, which will be led by Simon Fewings as Executive Director, Child Development. This unit will include Early Years Support and the Community Partners team and some of the new areas we anticipate will take shape in 2026 such as Nest and Nurture.
The growing scope of the Transformation work, Sector Development, Learning and Training remains at the Programs team.
2025 Snapshot: Strengthening the Early Years Sector
Our Early Years Support (EYS) program saw a landmark year in 2025, focused on deepening connections, delivering practical resources and elevating the voice of the Aboriginal Community Controlled (ACCO) sector.
Our teams were on the ground more than ever to support service quality, conducting over 300 site visits across NSW, Western Australia and Victoria. This commitment to connection culminated in three major State Leadership Gatherings, where we not only shared wisdom but provided media support to help services tell their own strength-based stories.
WA EYS Team gathering (left), and NSW EYS Team gathering (right).
2025 Highlights:
- Strategic Advocacy: We elevated the sector’s voice directly to Parliament with targeted advocacy packs and the launch of the national EYS Impact Video. These efforts backed critical policy wins, including the removal of the Activity Test and the push for secure, long-term funding models.
- New Partnerships & Resources: We launched a strategic partnership with the First Peoples Disability Network to build educator capacity for children with high needs. We also progressed some practical tools in preparation for sale, including the ‘Movement on Country’ and Yoga Cards series.
- Cultural Connection: The network’s strength was showcased in our new Acknowledgement of Country video, featuring local talent and demonstrating the deep community connections that define our services.
It has been a year of growth, resilience and shared success and we look forward to continuing to support and strengthen the ACCO ECEC sector next year!
Deadly Christmas Parties
The WA Early Years Support team in Rubibi/Broome joined the team at Nyamba Buru Yawuru for a deadly Christmas party.
On the other side of the country the Connected Beginnings Team supported our Wuchopperan’s Children and Family Centre in Gimuy/Cairns team with their combined Playgroup Christmas Party.
They ran three Playgroups across Cairns in our community (one on site at Wuchopperen for First Nations children, a whole community one at Hambledon House – this is one of our partner sites, Cairns South Together, with whom we have a formal agreement with and another whole community one at Cairns West State School that has a high demographic of First Nations children).
At the Christmas Party representatives from Qld Fire and Rescue, Qld Police Liaison Officers, the army, local entertainers Bulkaway Muruku all put on a fantastic party. There was also a jumping castle, face painters and local company Roaming Wild brought some snakes and spiders!
Creating Structural Change Through Shared Decision-Making Webinar
SNAICC – National Voice for our Children and Coolamon Advisors hosted a webinar on 5 December 2025 to launch the Creating Structural Change Through Shared Decision-Making guidance. The session focused on an overview of what shared decision-making is, why it is so critical for improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the resource itself.
You can watch the Webinar here:
About the Shared Decision-Making Guidance
The Creating Structural Change Through Shared Decision-Making guidance provides practical tools for government bodies and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to embed shared decision-making principles into their work.
The guidance is a clear, adaptable and easy-to-follow resource that supports partnerships at all stages of maturity with templates, readiness assessments and step-by-step tools to help both parties collaborate in culturally safe, accountable and sustainable ways.
Developed by Coolamon Advisors and SNAICC, the guidance aligns with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, specifically addressing Priority Reform One: Building formal partnerships and shared decision-making.
Access the guidance here.
Project Bird Update
SNAICC is proud to announce the piloting of Project BIRD training will begin taking flight early 2026. Spaces are filling up rapidly for the training. There is no cost but an investment of 5 full days for the training.
Project BIRD (Believe, Inquire, Respond to Disclosures) is part of the First National Action Plan under the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse and aims to improve the cultural safety and responsiveness of the primary healthcare system to drive improved support and referral outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victim-survivors of child sexual abuse. BIRD is an initiative of SNAICC in partnership with Yamurrah who worked on a National codesign process and research report.
For this phase of BIRD, our Project Team have also been busy collaborating with ACCOs (within each region identified by the NIAA) to partner with and co-facilitate delivery of this training. We are excited to announce that the following ACCOs have confirmed partnership with our team for delivery of BIRD in 2026:
- Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre (TAC) – Hobart
- Sisters in Spirit Aboriginal Organisation – Canberra
- Victorian Aboriginal Child and Community Agency (VACCA) – Melbourne
- Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) – Cairns
Project BIRD will be delivered over 5 days across 5 locations identified by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA):
- Hobart: February 16-20
- Canberra: March 2-6
- Melbourne: March 23-27
- Cairns: May 4-8
- Broome: May 25-29
For more information or register information please contact: training@snaicc.org.au
National Agreement Updates
In November, the Joint Council on Closing the Gap took an important step toward changing the trajectory for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people by agreeing to prioritise critical reforms under Target 12 of Closing the Gap.
Committing to prioritise shifting investment to ACCOs, strengthening early intervention, delegating authority for decisions about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce as the only pathways to genuine change. As part of this, Joint Council has also agreed to strengthen oversight of governments’ implementation of existing commitments.
“For too long, commitments have been made on paper while little has changed on the ground,” Ms Liddle said.
“This work is ultimately about what governments must do to better support our children to stay connected to family, culture and community.
You can read the communique here.
ECCDPP update
Meanwhile, the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (ECCDPP) met in Ngunnawal Country.
Selina Walker, Ngunnawal Traditional Owner and Chair of Yerrabi, performed a Welcome to Country.
Selina reflected on the importance of the work to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, particularly those with developmental delay and disability.
Representatives from the SNAICC Youth Voice Advisory Group also met with the ECCDPP to provide an overview of their work to establish a SNAICC Youth Voice. SNAICC has met with young people, policy groups and Children’s Commissioners across Australia to understand existing youth voice mechanisms.
Check out the video they made on the day!
Support us to support our children
As a not-for-profit entity, we rely on your support to help us achieve the work we do for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
By making a donation, you are promoting the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. Your contributions make a difference in people’s lives helping to build stronger, more empowered communities and brighter futures for our children and families.
Your support enables us to focus on the best and most strategic ways to make meaningful change for our communities. We achieve this by advocating for reform in policy and practice areas of child protection and early years education and championing the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Make a tax-deductible donation today and help us build stronger, empowered communities and better futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
SNAICC acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connections to land, waters, culture and communities. We pay our respect to Elders both past and present.