Early Childhood   

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First Nations children’s peak body backs childcare workforce funding
The peak body for First Nations children and families has welcomed the federal g...
Dechlan Brennan 18 Jun 2026
New research shows Noongar culture and arts boosts wellbeing literacy in early childhood education
Key points:- Noongar language, dance and arts has strengthened young children's...
Giovanni Torre 27 May 2026
New partnership puts East Kimberley Aboriginal voices at heart of early childhood services
A new partnership in Western Australia's East Kimberley region is aiming to tran...
Natasha Clark 29 Apr 2026
Partnering with First Nations communities to give babies the best start
Each year on National Close the Gap Day - 19 March - we are reminded that rates...
Grants up to $50,000 announced for NSW Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations delivering child and family services

New grants are available for Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations delivering child and family-focused services in New South Wales - aimed at fostering their growth and supporting capability.

Jarred Cross Jarred Cross Feb 24, 2026
Federal, state and philanthropic partnership delivers $20 million early learning centre for Derby

After years of lobbying by local women, more than $20 million has been committed to a new early learning centre in Derby, a remote town in Western Australia's Kimberley, about 220 kilometres north-eas...

Natasha Clark Natasha Clark Feb 24, 2026
Community-led early learning service opens in Kowanyama

A community-led early childhood education and care service has opened in Kowanyama, expanding access for children in the remote Cape York community.

Joseph Guenzler Joseph Guenzler Feb 18, 2026
Closing the Gap: Suicide, incarceration, and child protection targets lag while land and economic participation show progress

Only four of the 19 Closing the Gap targets are on track and four are moving backwards, with just five years remaining under the current agreement, the federal government says.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Feb 12, 2026
ANAO audit finds reporting gaps slowing progress on Closing the Gap education targets

Progress toward Closing the Gap targets in schooling and early childhood development is being undermined by reporting gaps, limited funding transparency and incomplete place-based partnerships, a new...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Feb 5, 2026
Martu-run playgroup in remote Pilbara celebrates 168 attendances

A Martu-run playgroup in Western Australia's remote Pilbara community of Punmu is helping young children prepare for school while creating paid work for local caregivers.

Natasha Clark Natasha Clark Jan 21, 2026
Hearing checks urged before children return to school

The lunches may be packed, the uniforms set out, books covered and labelled, but parents may be missing one essential on their child's return to school checklist.

K
Keira Jenkins Jan 19, 2026
Exclusive: Sustained investment needed to strengthen early childhood sector and protect children’s safety

Where early childhood centres put profits ahead of children's safety, there is a serious problem, the CEO of Australia's peak body for Indigenous children and families says.

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 28, 2025
Independent review finds SNAICC’s early years program transforms outcomes for Aboriginal children

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".

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Oct 27, 2025
New report shows cultural connections to Country, language and Mob vital to Indigenous children

A study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children has revealed early cultural connections to Country, language and Mob are just as critical as preschool and playgroups in shaping wellbeing and...

Giovanni Torre Giovanni Torre Oct 7, 2025
Experts condemn Aotearoa government push to eliminate Māori words from early education books

Leading experts have condemned moves by the government of Aotearoa to remove te reo Māori from early-reading pukapuka (books). Radio New Zealand reports that University of Auckland Professor of M...

Giovanni Torre Giovanni Torre Aug 24, 2025
Early childhood safety reforms welcomed but "systemic failings" must be confronted - SNAICC

Safety reforms in the early childhood sector have been cautiously welcomed by the peak body for First Nations children and families, though they argue that change must go further than regulation alone...

Dechlan Brennan Dechlan Brennan Aug 22, 2025
Reconciliation requires a willingness to sit with discomfort, listen deeply and imagine a future where respect is not "political"

The ongoing backlash against Acknowledgement of, and Welcome to Country ceremonies — most recently in early childhood education, and again in parliament — reflects a deeper unease within A...

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National Indigenous Times

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