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What is the Early Childhood Care & Development Policy Partnership?

The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership is a pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to work with governments to make the changes that families and communities need. The Partnership places community leaders in the room with governments to inform decision-making processes so that community voices are heard. 

The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (Partnership, ECCDPP) brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders—including Peaks and independent experts—and government representatives to provide advice and make shared decisions about matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. This ensures community voices are heard and works towards greater self-determination. The Partnership is co-chaired by SNAICC – National Voice for our Children and the Australian Government Department of Education.

The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership aims to:
  • identify reforms to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to achieve their potential in the early years and to set them up for long-term success
  • drive action to implement the priority reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
  • identify opportunities to work more effectively across governments, Coalition of Peaks and community organisations
  • enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to support Closing the Gap.

The Partnership presents an opportunity that has not existed before for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to work collaboratively in genuine partnership with governments to drive community-led early childhood outcomes. It provides an opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to ask questions of government and provide advice to improve decision-making. Collectively, the Partnership influences and informs government policy relating to early years so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children ages 0-5 can thrive.

As a new partnership under Closing the Gap, the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership has given more power to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to effect real change. 

Our role and impact

SNAICC has a key role in the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership as co-chair.

The Partnership develops policy and funding reforms that enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive in their early years and remain connected to culture, kin and community. These reforms build on the inherent strengths and capabilities of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector, which delivers quality, culturally safe services to children and their families across Australia. The Partnership progresses policy reform that improves outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and is accountable to community and Joint Council on Closing the Gap—which is a body made up of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak bodies and government Ministers.

Impact of the Partnership
In its first two years the Partnership has already made a lasting impact. 

The Partnership has successfully advocated for the establishment of the National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, building off years of advocacy from community leaders. The National Commission—which commenced operations on 13 January 2025—will be a voice for our children and help keep Government accountable.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community leaders are using the Partnership to advocate for government to make improvements in early childhood education and care funding and access, arguing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled early years services and government-supported access to 30 hours a week of childcare for all children. To date, the Partnership has contributed to the National Vision for Early Childhood Education and Care, the Productivity Commission Closing the Gap Report and the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Early Childhood Education and Care.

The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership’s longer-term work aims to provide better supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families so that children can safely stay with their families and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are not over-represented in child protection systems.

Priorities

The Partnership currently has 15 priorities, which sit under six key themes.

Work to progress the priorities is distributed between governments—working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities—and the co-chairs and co-secretariat.
Many of these priorities also involve working closely with other peaks and decision-making bodies.

The Partnership focuses primarily on early childhood education and care and child protection policy with the flexibility to address other issues that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities across Australia.

The Partnership puts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the room with government representatives where decisions are being made that impact on their lives and life outcomes. Decisions are made by consensus where the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold as much weight as government voices. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience is understood and respected, and self-determination is upheld. Community priorities guide decision-making—including how government should design policy and fund services—and the Partnership provides transparency in decision-making and ensures that the actions are reflective of community voices.

The Coalition of Peaks selected the Aboriginal leaders and organisations to form the ECCDPP. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the Partnership are chosen to represent peak bodies—or because they are experts in their own right. Representatives are chosen from across Australia. The peak body representatives have expertise across early childhood education and child protection and family safety, and the independent experts are also recognised leaders in these fields. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders that are in the Partnership work directly with communities and bring the voices of families and Aboriginal community-controlled organisations into the room to inform shared decision-making with governments. Additionally, the Partnership includes Australian Government departments who have responsibility across early childhood education and care, maternal and child health and child protection and families.

All members of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership provide strong voices for community.
The work plans summarise the agreed actions the Partnership will take to support its objectives each year.
In 2024, the ECCDPP:
  • built on strong community feedback loops established by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members and previous consultation with communities
  • collaborated with stakeholders, including Policy and Place-based Partnerships under the National Agreement and Safe and Supported.
  • pursued dual processes of making recommendations to Joint Council on Closing the Gap
  • progressed reform priorities via jurisdictional Closing the Gap architecture.

View the Work Plan Year Two Summary

In 2023, the ECCDPP:
  • progressed initial priorities to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
  • conducted and commissioned research that advances the partnership’s policy reform priorities
  • developed an Annual Report to the Joint Council on the actions of the ECCDPP and its progress against objectives and targets
  • developed a 3-year strategic plan to bring together National Agreement priority reforms and policy areas.

View the Work Plan Year One Summary

Members of the Partnership meet face-to-face each quarter to advance yearly priorities and contribute to broader strategic reforms in the Early Childhood Education and Care and Child Safety sectors.

Outcomes of each Quarterly Meeting are published on the Department of Education website and download links are provided below:

The Partnership will meet again in March 2025 to continue progressing the Partnership’s priorities.
Part of the Partnership’s role is to commission independent research.

This work informs us on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood care and development policy.
Research commissioned and published by the Partnership does not represent government commitments unless it has progressed through Closing the Gap governance and/or is reflected in the policy commitments of individual governments.

Major Independent Research reports published to date are:
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Guiding Stars

The vibrant artwork, titled Guiding Stars, symbolises the unity and shared decision-making embodied by the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership.

The central motif of interconnected patterns and shapes represents the coming together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders, families, and government representatives, all working harmoniously to ensure the wellbeing and cultural richness of the youngest children. The bright, swirling elements signify the Guiding Stars, an ancestral reminder of the wisdom and strength that guide the community in making decisions for a brighter future. Surrounding footprints depict the journey of collaboration and continuous support from the community, creating a nurturing environment where every child can thrive and remain connected to their heritage.

The piece is a celebration of the ECCDPP’s commitment to fostering early childhood development and closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
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Artist attribution

Tovani Cox is a proud Bunuba, Gija and Karajarri woman from the Kimberley region of Western Australia.

Born in Broome, Tovani is passionate about art and design and often her inspiration is from her long-standing commitment to self-determination and rights of First Nations people and communities.

She was predominantly raised in Noongar country in Perth, and since early 2017 has been living on Wurundjeri country in Melbourne and travels home to the Kimberley as often as she can to connect with kin and country.

Tovani has qualifications in Digital Graphic Design from RMIT University, and wants to pursue further skills and training using art as therapy and healing.

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Logo & design attribution

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership logo and creative elements designed by Samantha Campbell and Coolamon Creative.

Samantha Campbell is descended from the Dagiman people from Katherine and as a child lived in remote communities across the Top End.

She is an accomplished artist and talented designer; Coolamon Creative is a small creative business based in Alice Springs with clients from all over Australia run by Samantha and Gabrielle Fry who share a strong passion for visual storytelling. 

Resources

News

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 2 Workplan Summary

September 2024

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 2 Workplan Summary identifies the agreed actions the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership will take to support its objectives, which include priorities and actions to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Download
News

Evidence on optimal hours of ECEC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children

July 2024

Evidence on optimal hours of ECEC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children Literature Review commissioned by the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership, undertaken by Dandolopartners with Wiradjuri researcher, educator and board director Dr Jessa Rogers.

Download
News

Funding Model Options for ACCO Integrated Early Years Services Final Report

May 2024

Funding Model Options for ACCO Integrated Early Years Services Final Report presents findings and recommendations so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have access to high-quality, culturally safe ECEC services that meet their developmental and wellbeing needs through needs-based funding model options that support the viable operation of ACCO early years service providers.

Download
News

Agreement to Implement the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership

August 2023

Agreement to Implement the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership. Partnership Agreement to improve outcomes under Closing the Gap for Early Childhood Care and Development established by the Joint Council on Closing the Gap under the Authority of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Download
News

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 1 Workplan Summary

May 2023

Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership: Year 1 Workplan Summary identifies the agreed actions the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership will take to support its objectives, which include progress initial priorities to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Download
News

Fact Sheet: Priority Reform One – the National Agreement on Closing the Gap

November 2018

The National Agreement's Priority Reform One commits governments to new formal policy partnerships and place-based partnerships where decision making on Closing the Gap will be shared between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives. Read the Fact Sheet here.

Download

Engaging with the ECCDPP

As co-chair of the ECCDPP, SNAICC wants to understand the priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families so that we can accurately address and improve outcomes for our children, families and communities. 

The ECCDPP welcomes requests to collaborate from government and non-government stakeholders who share the understanding that investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination is the key to transforming the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait children and their families.

To contact the ECCDPP co-secretariat about an engagement opportunity, please email eccdpp@snaicc.org.au or ECCDpolicypartnership@education.gov.au with your contact details and a short summary of your organisation’s opportunity.

Please read the ECCDPP Engagement Criteria for more information on its role and priorities.

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