The national peak body for Indigenous children and families says an independent review has confirmed a self-determined and culturally safe learning model is a "highly valued and effective initiative".

An independent Deloitte evaluation of the Early Years Support (EYS) program, run by SNAICC - National Voice for our Children, found the community-controlled intermediary model plays a "critical role in delivering direct, responsive support to services," which has "contributed to improved service quality, reduced barriers to effective delivery, and alleviated administrative burden".

This comes despite Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) continuing to face "significant operational and systemic challenges".

"The strong relationships built by SNAICC Early Years Support have opened the doors for effective policy influence and development - fostered by a more connected ACCO sector," the report said.

"This has created critical opportunities to work collectively with governments to lift child, family and community outcomes - in an increasingly co-ordinated, cohesive, and culturally strong ACCO service system."

Established in 2020, the EYS program was found to be "effective in enabling services to deliver high-quality, responsive, accessible, and culturally strong supports".

SNAICC welcomed the findings, saying they reaffirm what Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have long known - that when Aboriginal organisations lead early childhood education, their children thrive.

CEO Catherine Liddle said evidence shows the EYS model "works and it's changing lives".

"These are the services that are best places and are proven to get the best outcomes for our children and families," she said.

The report found EYS strengthens the Aboriginal community-controlled early education sector by improving service quality, reducing administrative burdens, and fostering collaboration. Among participating services, 86 per cent reported stronger connections and greater confidence in meeting or exceeding the National Quality Standard.

While noting it is "too early to measure and quantify long-term outcomes," the report said evidence suggests EYS is "laying a strong foundation for improvements in children's learning, health, and wellbeing outcomes".

Ms Liddle said SNAICC now has a "service for the ACCO early years workforce" which is "proven to deliver tangible improvements in service quality, connection and cultural strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led Early Education and care services".

"This sector is instrumental in closing the gap for our children, particularly when we consider key outcomes around developmental readiness for school and family support," she said.

Across Victoria, NSW and Western Australia, EYS partners with 76 ACCOs, supporting more than 2,200 children and families, including 1,700 Aboriginal children.

The report noted that "improvements in service quality and sustainability ... flow directly through to benefits for children, families and communities".

Ms Liddle said the high demand - with hundreds of children still on waiting lists - makes it vital for "this trusted model continues to be supported and expanded".

"SNAICC is urging the Government to secure ongoing investment to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children continue to receive the culturally strong, high-quality early education they deserve," she said.

"EYS is delivering exactly what the Closing the Gap reforms are designed to achieve - strong, community-led services that support our children to thrive."