The unveiling of a government roadmap for Australia’s children aged 0-5 years has been welcomed by experts as a good first step; but, they argue, more must be done, including the appointment of a cabinet minister to oversee the early years strategy.
The 10-year whole-of-Commonwealth approach for policies and programs affecting about 1.82 million Australian children was unveiled on Tuesday.
One of the strategy’s four ‘priority focus areas’ is to better integrate, collaborate and coordinate policy, programs and services. The document outlines how siloes create barriers and a cohesive plan can improve a nationwide child wellbeing agenda.
“Results from the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) suggest more can be done to improve outcomes in early childhood. Some children are experiencing higher rates of developmental vulnerability, and these experiences intensify when children face intersecting experiences of disadvantage and vulnerability,” the strategy document reads.
“The complexity of the current service system for young children and their families is a barrier for many. Great services are available, but they don’t always work together, meaning some families may fall through the cracks.
“We need a holistic approach that takes into account all facets and aspects of children’s lives.”
But advocates say to truly break down the complex department and agency silos that have undermined policies relating to children and families, the prime minister himself will need to act by appointing a dedicated minister to his cabinet.
Roslyn Dundas, CEO of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), welcomed the strategy and its potential to make a significant and positive impact.
She noted her organisation was committed to working with the Department of Social Services and government to ensure the strategy’s success.
“We know that when children prosper, so do their communities. If, as a nation, we can ensure a good start in life for our children, the benefits will be immense,” Dundas said.
“The prime minister’s ‘Future Made in Australia’ vision can only be implemented if we invest more in the health and wellbeing of today’s children.
“We’ll be watching closely on budget night to see if the government is serious about investing in our future,” she said.
A child wellbeing framework designed by the ARACY, known as ‘the Nest’, will be used to develop outcomes of the new early years strategy.
Dundas said that for all Australian children to thrive, strong budget commitments were needed.
A cabinet minister for children and young people was another way the government could show that it was serious about prioritising the rights and interests of the nation’s youngest people, she added.
“Children need an internal advocate who will always put them first when it comes to federal government policy, programming and funding,” Dundas said.
“One in six children under the age of 14 are living in poverty today, a figure that has barely budged in the past twenty years.
“If we, as a community, really valued children as we say we do, we would not have persistent levels of children living in poverty, or falling behind in education, or missing out on vital services,” she said.
A ‘Thrive by Five’ campaign led by the Minderoo Foundation has also expressed support for the new strategy and the benefits of a nationally consistent approach to early years policy.
Thrive by Five director Jay Weatherill said the document laid the groundwork for a truly universal, accessible and affordable early childhood education system in Australia.
“Australia’s current approach to the early years is deeply fragmented and varies greatly across states and territories,” Weatherill said.
“Where a child is born should not determine whether they have access to high-quality learning in the early years, however, that is unfortunately the current reality.”
Australia’s decadal early years strategy would help address this challenge, the former SA premier said, and would go far to setting up children for lifelong success.
Weatherill also suggested that more immediate action could be taken to lift childcare access and affordability. He called on the federal government to abolish the childcare subsidy activity test, introduce fee caps, and raise wages for all early childhood educators.
“Giving children the best possible start in life requires a coordinated approach that involves many key stakeholders and spans across health, education and other key developmental goals,” Weatherill said.
“This is the first time that we as a nation have recognised the serious problems in approaching this vital period in children’s lives in an inconsistent and fragmented manner.
READ MORE:
What is the government’s new plan for Australian children’s early years?
