$70.4m funding for early childhood activities

By PETER ROWE

First Nations children and families will continue to benefit from early childhood activities through a $70.4 million, two-year investment by the Federal government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

The investment will extend funding for 188 activities across the country, ensuring 173 organisations can continue to support First Nations children in their early years so they can grow up healthy and happy, and support them to be ready for school.

Early childhood is the most critical phase of a child’s development.

“Extending this funding commitment means First Nations families can continue to benefit from early childhood activities and services to help their children thrive,” Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said.

“The Albanese Government is committed to supporting First Nations children to get the best start in life through high quality, culturally appropriate education and development initiatives in their early years.”

Access to quality, culturally safe early childhood activities has positive life-long impacts on health, education, employment and economic outcomes.

The investment will support a range of culturally safe First Nations early childhood development initiatives, including:

* $16.8 million for facilitated playgroups
* $15.5 million for integrated early childhood approaches including wrap-around activities
* $14.5 million for family, parenting, kinship or carer support activities
* $14.1 million for early learning activities
* $9.4 million to increase family and community access and engagement.

This investment complements other Commonwealth early years programs, which provide childcare, preschool, health and family support.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said the new funding would make a huge difference in delivering services and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early education and care services around the country.

“Collaboration is at the heart of what we do,” Ms Liddle said.

“These projects involve collaborating with and strengthening Aboriginal community-controlled organisations as well as skilling up mainstream Early Childhood Education and Care services who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.

“This funding helps to close the gap for our children and set them up to thrive.”