NEW COMMISSIONER FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CHILDREN THE CULMINATION OF YEARS OF ADVOCACY BY INDIGENOUS ORGS
13 February 2024 – Early childhood campaigners have welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement of the creation of a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.
Minderoo Foundation’s Thrive By Five campaign said Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, including Thrive By Five partner SNAICC, had been advocating for this for years.
“We congratulate SNAICC and their partners on their tireless advocacy in this space and look forward to continuing to work alongside them and governments to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families can access affordable, culturally-appropriate early years education,” said Minderoo Foundation’s Jay Weatherill.
“The Commissioner will listen to and advocate for children and young people to ensure they grow up safe and connected to their family and cultural identity.”
SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said the Commissioner will be a champion for Indigenous children, young people and families and will hold governments to account.
“They will help turn the tide of our children being over-represented in out of home care and youth detention,” Ms Liddle said.
“They will be able to investigate and make strong recommendations on issues that affect our children, ensuring their safety and rights are upheld.
“This significant commitment to our children should have bi-partisan support nationally and in all states and territories. Our children deserve this.”
Mr Weatherill said while increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in early childhood education is one of the few Closing The Gap targets on track, more improvement was needed.
Almost half of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children arrive at school developmentally vulnerable – twice the national average.
“Where we have seen progress is where governments have forged genuine and equitable partnerships with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to deliver childcare and preschool,” Mr Weatherill said.
“Centres run by and for Aboriginal people are having huge success in getting more kids into early learning and supporting their social and cognitive development in a culturally appropriate way.
“As a result they are more likely to start school developmentally on-track. The centres also act as hubs 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.”
Media contact: Iona Salter (Essential Media), 0413 185 634
