Changes needed for Aboriginal children to thrive

By PETER ROWE

A review of the Community Child Care Fund Restricted (CCCFR) Grant has recommended that the Federal Government explore ways to better support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood education and care (ECEC) services and families.

Catherine Liddle, chief executive of SNAICC, the National Voice for our Children, said the report acknowledges the important role of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to access education and care and the need for governments to better fund and support these services.

“Many of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services funded by the grant operate in remote communities where there are significant barriers to providing ECEC and where the benefits for accessing early childhood services will produce the greatest benefit,” Ms Liddle said.

“Australian Child Care Career Options (ACCO) go beyond the mainstream approach to childcare, offering connection, accountability and providing holistic wrap around support for children and extended families because that’s what’s needed in these communities.

National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle.

“Despite consistently showing increased engagement among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, ACCOs do not receive the funding they need to operate sustainably.

Ms Liddle said she was pleased to see the government commit to extending funding to services for a further two years, providing important certainty for ACCOs funded under this grant.

“The government needs to commit to meaningful reform of the ECEC sector by implementing the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry Report ‘A path to universal early childhood education and care’,” Ms Liddle said.

“Now is the time for large-scale ECEC reform. Governments should commit to implementing a dedicated funding model for ACCO early years services that ensures their sustainability.”