INVESTMENT IN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY-CONTROLLED EARLY LEARNING SERVICES WELCOMED BY ADVOCATES
11 November 2024 – Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive by Five campaign has welcomed the Federal Government’s $70.4 million investment in strengthening and supporting Aboriginal community-controlled (ACCO) early learning services across Australia.
Thrive by Five’s Jay Weatherill said that the investment will help address the significant underrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia’s early learning system.
“Access to culturally safe learning and care in the early years can be transformative for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children,” Mr Weatherill said.
“However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families face several barriers that prevent them from accessing early learning, including underfunding of ACCO services.
“As a result, they remain woefully underrepresented in our nation’s early learning system.
“This Federal Government investment will help ensure more Indigenous children can access quality early learning and care in their communities.
“To close the gap, action must begin in the early years. Quality early learning helps children start school ready and supports positive lifelong outcomes.
“While we welcome this important step, further reforms are needed to boost participation rates, including abolishing the punitive childcare subsidy activity test,” Mr Weatherill said.
