INDIGENOUS CHILDREN WOULD BENEFIT FROM GOVTS DRASTICALLY RETHINKING THE WAY THEY WORK WITH COMMUNITIES
7 February 2024 – Early childhood campaigners have backed the Productivity Commission’s call for governments to drastically rethink the way they work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations.
The commission today released a review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, noting that governments’ business-as-usual approach was failing Indigenous communities.
Jay Weatherill from Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive By Five campaign said governments must take the Productivity Commission’s recommendations seriously.
“Children thrive when communities thrive, and what we are hearing from this review is that governments are not sharing power with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and listening to what they have to say,” Mr Weatherill said.
The National Agreement on Closing The Gap is an agreement between the federal, state and territory governments and community organisations to work together to improve life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
The agreement has 19 socio-economic targets, including health, education, justice, and culture.
Increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enrolled in 4-year-old kinder is one of the few targets on track, with 96.7% enrolled in 2021, compared to 76.7% in 2016.
Mr Weatherill said it was an example of what could be achieved when Indigenous people and organisations were given more control over service delivery.
“Early learning centres that are run by and for Aboriginal people are having huge success in getting more kids into early learning.
“They are supporting their social and cognitive development in a culturally appropriate way and acting as a hub for families to get referrals to health services or other services when they need it.
“But these organisations are chronically underfunded. This must change if we’re to make sure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids are set up to thrive, and to shift the dial on other Closing The Gap targets.”
Catherine Liddle, CEO of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s organisation SNAICC, said governments needed to substantially shift the way they think about and interact with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
“Their report makes it clear that governments and their decision-makers do not know best when it comes to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We know what works best for us,” Ms Liddle said.
“We are looking forward to the Prime Minister’s statement next week on the anniversary of the National Apology. SNAICC urges the Prime Minister to be bold and create a path for real change to address the entrenched disadvantage that exists for our children and families.”
Media contact: Iona Salter (Essential Media), 0413 185 634
