Early childhood activities for First Nations children and families will receive a significant boost from a $70.4 million, two-year investment by the federal government's Indigenous Advancement Strategy, it was announced Saturday morning.
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, encouraging good health and school readiness.
SNAICC - National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said the increased and extended funding will 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. 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," she said.
The federal government noted in a statement that early childhood is the most critical phase of a child's development, and that 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 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; and $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.
Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the federal 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.
"Extending this funding commitment means First Nations families can continue to benefit from early childhood activities and services to help their children thrive," Senator McCarthy said.
