👋🏽 Werte,
You would have heard me say that Closing the Gap starts with our children.
It starts with ensuring that they are loved and cared for, that they belong, are proud in their identity and that they know their stories.
One of those stories that many of us know is that of Dick Roughsey’s book The Rainbow Serpent. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the publication of this story that has helped educate our children and de-colonise our classrooms.
The Rainbow Serpent is known as Wanampi and in these stories, we are told that the Wanampi brings with it both destruction and rebirth. The Rainbow Serpent is how it helped transform how our children learned about their culture.
Indeed, every day, everyone involved at SNAICC, from our members, the services we support and their staff to our dedicated staff, board and council, we are all working together to dismantle the structures that do not serve our children and rebuild and invest in ones that do.
And across the country, there is so much transformative work happening. Each one of you is helping work on something transformative.
So, sit back, grab a cuppa and allow us to share with you some of the deadly updates!
SNAICC’25: Australia’s Largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Conference
More than 2,000 leaders, advocates and experts gathered in Meanjin/Brisbane last month for SNAICC’25.
Because of you, SNAICC’25 was Australia’s largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conference – thank you to each of our delegates who took the time to join us for three days of culture, community and connection.
Thank you for being with us, sharing your knowledge and insights on community-led solutions, helping to influence national policy and ultimately working to strengthen culturally safe approaches to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
We look forward to welcoming you at SNAICC’27, which will be held on the lands of the Kaurna in Tarndanya/Adelaide.
Board and Council Updates
At this year’s Annual General Meeting, we reflected on a year of growth, advocacy, and community-led impact. The release of our 2024–2025 Annual Report highlights the achievements and milestones made possible by our dedicated members, partners and staff.
As part of the AGM, we’re pleased to share updates to our Board and Council leadership.
Board Appointments:
- Rachel Atkinson has been appointed Deputy Chairperson.
- Selina Walker joins as Secretary.
- Craig Rigney has been welcomed as a Board Member, bringing expertise in Specialist Child Safety & Wellbeing.
- We also acknowledge the resignation of Kylie Degenhardt (Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) and thank her for her contributions.
Rachel Atkinson
Selina Walker
Craig RigneyCouncil Updates:
- Richard Weston (Maari Ma, NSW) joins the Council.
- Craig Rigney (KWY, SA) has also been appointed to the Council.
- We farewell Emma Beckett (Muloobinba Aboriginal Corporation) and thank her for the years of dedicated service and advocacy.
We thank all outgoing members for their commitment and leadership and welcome our new representatives.
You can read the Annual Report here.
EYS Program Advocates for Continued Support in Canberra
This month SNAICC – National Voice for our Children joined two Directors from our ACCO ECEC’s in Canberra to meet with Ministers and other Members of Parliament. Together, they shared powerful stories from the Early Years Support (EYS) program – stories of care, dedication, and quiet achievements that are transforming the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
Drawing on findings from an independent Deloitte review, SNAICC advocated for continued investment in EYS beyond 2025. The report confirmed what our communities have always known. When Aboriginal organisations lead early childhood education, our children thrive. The EYS model builds trust, strengthens networks, and improves service quality which enables educators to focus on children, not paperwork.
Currently supporting 76 ACCOs and more than 2,200 children and families, EYS is proven to be a highly effective initiative that delivers tangible outcomes. As demand continues to grow, SNAICC called for ongoing Commonwealth support to ensure the program can expand and continue its vital work.
The message to Parliament was clear – investing in Aboriginal-led early years services is investing in stronger children, stronger families, and stronger futures.
EYS Impact Video
We wanted to share the latest EYS Impact Video.
This video celebrates the work of our early years services, explains how vital the care and nurture you provide is for our children and advocates for continued investment in community-controlled early learning services.
Check out the Deadly EYS Impact video below 👇🏾👇🏾
Youth Voice Update
It’s been a big few months for SNAICC’s Youth Voice since the Board endorsed our proposal in August 2025. Youth Voice officially launched at the SNAICC 2025 Conference in October and has already begun shaping policy and advocacy efforts.
Last week, two members of our Youth Advisory Group (‘YAG’) attended a meeting of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (‘ECCDPP’) to share their lived experiences and advocate for improved outcomes for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The ECCDPP, established under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, is a permanent forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations to work in genuine partnership with all governments to drive community-led reforms to the child protection, family support and early learning and development sectors.
YAG members also participated in consultations with United Nations Youth Australia, a youth-led initiative ensuring young Australians are represented in national and international decision-making, including via the UN General Assembly. Discussions focused on community and belonging, education, justice and safety and representation. We’re proud to see YAG voices reflected in the 2025 Youth Representative report and its recommendations.
And in case you missed it, SNAICC Yarns has launched its first ever video podcast!
Our first ever video podcast features SNAICC’s Youth Voice panel from SNAICC’25.
The panel shares what makes them deadly and dives into the motivations behind creating the Youth Advisory Group, and talk about the importance of creating culturally safe, flexible spaces where young people are the experts in their own lives and should influence the policies that affect them.
Youth Voice is in the very early stages but already making progress informing the policies that affect young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
SNAICC’s Youth Voice will launch our very own Newsletter in early 2026 and you can sign up below to stay updated on developments and follow our journey.
Sign up for the Youth Voice Newsletter
If you want to get involved, or learn more contact youth@snaicc.org.au.
Connected Beginnings Jurisdictional Network meeting
SNAICC’s Connected Beginnings (CB) Team convened the first in-person Jurisdictional Network Workshop on Ngunnawal Country from November 4–5, bringing together CB sites from across NSW and the ACT to yarn, share ideas, and strengthen relationships. The workshop also included representation from CB Program Partners, including the Department of Education, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and NACCHO, with both CB Backbones and Health Partners actively participating.
CB sites did thinking around creating systems for change so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families had better access to services and can thrive.
The creation of the NSW/ACT CB Jurisdictional Network came directly from feedback provided by CB sites through the mid-term evaluation report and supports the self-determination approach of the Connected Beginnings Program.
SNAICC acknowledges and thanks the host CB site Yerrabi Yurwang for all their support and hosting at their amazing facilities on beautiful Ngunnawal Country in Acton, Canberra.
HIPPY: Home learning that strengthens families and communities
In October, the Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters (HIPPY) Australia joined a global conversation with delegates from Aotearoa (New Zealand), Canada and Chile, showcasing the Aboriginal Leadership Transition Framework (ALTF) and its commitment to move First Nations-focused sites from mainstream organisations to Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), aligning with Closing the Gap Priority Reform 2.
SNAICC, in partnership with Brotherhood of St Laurence, is leading this transition to ensure programs remain culturally safe, community-driven and connected to global best practice.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, HIPPY offers more than education—it builds cultural pride, strengthens family bonds and empowers parents as their child’s first teacher. The two-year, home-based program for children aged 3-4 provides resources and support through trained tutors, creating local employment pathways via an “earn while you learn” model.
HIPPY operates in 100 sites across Australia, 50 of which are First Nations-focused. By 2026, 44 of these will be delivered by ACCOs, ensuring the program continues to reflect culture, values and self-determination.
Spirit of Sound update
Last month, the team at Hearing Australia joined us at SNAICC’25 in Meanjin/Brisbane.
Many of you might have had a yarn with them and shared stories of how you’re bringing sound and story into your learning environment.
Hearing Australia recently released the Spirit of Sound Educators guide, this guide brings together hearing, cultural, and education expertise to offer practical, play-based learning experiences.
The guide contains
- Insights into auditory development
- Play-based learning activities inspired by the Spirit of Sound storybook
- Strategies for inclusive sound-based learning
- Links to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) V2.0
Download your copy of the guide and storybook.
Watch — or listen — to Luke Carroll read from the Spirit of Sound Storybook
Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-Operative (BADAC) registered as Victoria’s first ACCO Early Years Management authority
Congratulations to the team at Ballarat and District Aboriginal Co-operative (BADAC) which has been registered as Victoria’s first ACCO Early Years Management (EYM) authority. BADAC currently provides culturally inclusive early learning programs to local families in kindergartens across the Ballarat district, including Perridak Burron in Brown Hill, Yirral Burron in Sebastopol, and Yaluk Burron in Ballan.
BADAC’s Early Years & Connected Beginning’s mob attended SNAICC’25 in Meanjin/Brisbane in October.
BADAC secures an on school site Kinder at Gordon Primary School
In other news, BADAC has also been successful in securing a Kinder on a School Site for Gordon Primary School for 2026.
The new building will open in Term One from next year and will have two new kindergarten rooms for up to 66 children. Expressions of interest for term one, 2026 can be submitted here.
BIRD was co-developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders and leaders in the field. BIRD was developed to bridge a gap in formal qualifications around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Childhood Sexual Abuse. The BIRD research report is a significant contribution to the evidence base of the need for this work and is available on SNAICC’s website.
Participants will develop their own BIRD practice framework throughout the training, which is anchored to culturally responsive ways of responding to disclosures.
Our BIRD Project team are collaborating with ACCO’s to partner with and co-facilitate delivery of this training.
For more information or register information please contact: training@snaicc.org.au
First Nations Therapeutic Responses Summit 2026: Creating a Space for Innovation
KWY invites you to join us at The First Nations Therapeutic Responses Summit: Creating a Space for Innovation from 18–20 March 2026 on Kaurna Country. This year’s theme, “Creating a Space for Innovation,” will shine a spotlight on bold, culturally responsive solutions to Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence and Child Protection.
Hear from Stan Grant, Dr Tracy Westerman AM, Dr Di & Mark Kopua (NZ), Joe Williams, Catherine Liddle, Muriel Bamblett AO, Commissioner Micaela Cronin and more powerful keynotes, immersive workshops, and collaborative spaces.
Last year’s summit was a sell-out event with a huge waitlist — don’t miss your chance to be part of this year’s transformative gathering.
Secure your place now: www.kwy.org.au/summit
ECEC Workplace Retention Payments
Are you getting the full support you need for your workforce? Many ACCOs are finding that the standard Workforce Retention Payment formula doesn’t cover their costs.
That’s why the Department of Education has opened a Funding Review process.
There are reporting requirements for the WRP. If you received WRP payments before 30 June 2025, you need to:
- log into the grants portal and complete the 2024–25 annual declaration form only include payments made before 30 June 2025
- report workplace instrument coverage at the provider level. If it’s below 95%, you must explain the reasonable steps you took.
- include 2023–24 data even if you didn’t receive funding until 2025. Enter ‘0’ if a service wasn’t operating in 2023–24.
- email WRPGrantCompliance@education.gov.au if you need to make changes after submitting.
Note: a person with management or control must complete and submit the form.
We’re here to help, and make this easier. If you’re stuck or unsure, reach out to workforce@snaicc.org.au.
Check out the video below Miranda Edwards, SNAICC’s National Workforce Manager, as she shares insights on the grant.
SNAICC Yarns
Recorded live on the main stage at SNAICC’25 in Meanjin/Brisbane, this episode of Kids, Culture, Community – SNAICC Yarns takes you to a conversation about what must change to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families.
Yorta Yorta, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung, and Boon Wurrung Elder Aunty Muriel Bamblett (VACCA CEO and SNAICC Chairperson) convenes a panel of commissioners and guardians from across the country to discuss the safety, wellbeing and justice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.
Joining Aunty Muriel are Adjunct Professor Sue-Anne Hunter (National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People), Dale Agius (South Australia’s Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People), Natalie Lewis (Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner), Jacqueline McGowan-Jones (WA Commissioner for Children and Young People), Shahleena Musk (NT Children’s Commissioner) and Shona Reid (SA Guardian for Children and Young People).
Commissioners and Guardians are independent voices who champion and advocate for children’s rights and hold systems to account. In this episode, they bring a human rights and accountability lens to the discussion on the continued over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care and youth justice systems. Together, they discuss the priorities for reform and what real change looks like for the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities.
Keep the conversation going—follow and share this podcast episode to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families, and communities.
🎧 Listen now
New mandatory safety standards on infant sleep products
From 19 January 2026, new mandatory safety standards for infants sleep products will be taking effect across Australia. These changes affect all consumers who use infant sleep products, including early childhood education and care (ECEC) services.
The updated mandatory standards set out requirements for the design, construction and warning labels on infant sleep products and inclined non-sleep products and will apply from items purchased from 19 January 2026.
For more information click here.
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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 National Voice for our Children · Suite 1, Level 8, 36 Wellington Street · Collingwood, VIC 3066 · Australia