27 FebClosing the Gap in ECEC
This month, the Australian Government released the Annual Report and Implementation Plan which outlines the strategic priorities for Closing the Gap over the next year. The report outlines several commitments by the Australian Government to help improve access and equity in the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector. These include:
- an Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership – $10.2 million over three years
- expanding the Community Child Care Fund Restricted program to establish services in mainly remote locations – $29.9 million
- expanding the Connected Beginnings program to 50 sites nationally by 2025 – $81.8 million
- support for On-Country Learning as part of the Better, Safer Future for Central Australia plan – $40.4 million over two years
- First Nations Languages Education Program – $14.1 million over four years
- support high quality and culturally appropriate education for First Nations boys and girls in remote areas ($9.34 million) and to expand junior ranger activities to 25 additional sites – $24.24 million.
The 2024 Implementation Plan sets out a number of key actions in 2024 that will be achieved through partnerships with First Nations stakeholders to ensure First Nations children and students can access culturally safe and high-quality education and care. These include developing formal partnerships between the Government and First Nations peak education bodies, finalising and aligning the Early Years Strategy with commitments made under Closing the Gap and amplifying the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy.
As ELAA embarks on our Reconciliation journey, we will look to the Closing the Gap Annual report and Implementation Plan and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy in collaboration with, and learning from existing Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, to ensure that our work is culturally aware and promotes equity for First Nations children.
We encourage you to read the Closing the Gap Annual Report and Implementation Plan by clicking HERE.
For more information on reconciliation and culturally safe curriculum, visit Narragunnawali by clicking HERE.
