The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (ECCDPP) is an Australian Government commitment to bring together governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives to develop recommendations to improve early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families.
On this page:
About the partnership
The ECCDPP enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to work in genuine partnership with governments to drive community-led, early childhood care and development outcomes.
It has been co-developed with:
- SNAICC– National Voice for our Children (SNAICC), the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families
- Australian Government departments with responsibility across
- early childhood education and care
- maternal and child health
- child protection and families.
In October 2022, the Australian Government committed $10.2 million to establish the partnership over 3 years.
In December 2024, the Australian Government announced a further $11.4 million to extend the partnership for another 3 years, to 30 June 2028. This includes resources to support SNAICC as co-chair and shared secretariat with the Department of Education.
The ECCDPP is one of 5 policy partnerships established under Priority One of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. Its remit covers Closing the Gap Outcomes 2, 3, 4, 12 and 13.
Objectives
The objectives of the ECCDPP include to:
- identify reforms to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to achieve their potential in the early years, and to set them up for long-term success
- action priority reforms in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-led initiatives
- identify opportunities to work more effectively across governments, Coalition of Peaks and community organisations
- enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives, communities and organisations to negotiate and implement agreements with governments to support Closing the Gap.
Read more in the Agreement to Implement the ECCDPP
Membership
The partnership comprises representatives from peak organisations and governments, including:
- Federal, state and territory governments
- SNAICC – National Voice for Our Children
- National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation
- First Peoples Disability Network
- Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre
- Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated
- Aboriginal Family Support Services
- other independent First Nations and community representatives.
Work plans
The work plans summarise the agreed actions the ECCDPP will take to support its objectives each year.
In 2023, the ECCDPP:
- progressed initial priorities to improve early childhood care and development outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- conducted and commissioned research that advances the partnership’s policy reform priorities
- developed an Annual Report to the Joint Council on the actions of the ECCDPP and its progress against objectives and targets
- developed a 3-year strategic plan to bring together National Agreement priority reforms and policy areas.
In 2024, the ECCDPP:
- built on strong community feedback loops established by the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander members and previous consultation with communities
- collaborated with stakeholders, including Policy and Place-based Partnerships under the National Agreement and Safe and Supported
- pursued dual processes of making recommendations to Joint Council on Closing the Gap
- progressed reform priorities via jurisdictional Closing the Gap architecture.
Meetings
The ECCDPP has held meetings on:
- 19 and 20 March 2025
- 11 and 12 November 2024
- 24 and 25 July 2024
- 30 April and 1 May 2024
- 31 January and 1 February 2024
- 9 October 2023
- 28 and 29 June 2023
- 15 and 16 March 2023
- 14 November 2022
Engaging with the partnership
The ECCDPP welcomes requests for engagement from government and non-government organisations developing policies or initiatives that will impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families.
Organisations can seek the expertise of the ECCDPP to inform the design of a process or initiative. The ECCDPP will prioritise engagement opportunities that:
- align with the partnership's scope, objectives, workplan and priorities
- align with the National Agreement
- provide opportunity for impact and influence from the ECCDPP as senior representatives and decision-makers
- have a clear and defined opportunity for ECCDPP to make a collective contribution
- allow sufficient time for collective discussion, decision-making and input from the ECCDPP.
Learn more in the ECCDPP engagement criteria
To contact the ECCDPP co-secretariat about an engagement opportunity, please email ECCDpolicypartnership@education.gov.au with your contact details and a short summary of your organisation's opportunity.
To find out more about how your personal information will be used, please read the ECCDPP privacy statement.
Resources
Read more about how the Australian Government is working to Close the Gap in early childhood education and care.
Read more about the Australian Government’s commitments in early childhood care and development, including:
The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Childhood Strategy
The Early Childhood Care and Development Sector Strengthening Plan
Independent research
Part of the partnership’s role is to commission independent research. This work informs us on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early childhood care and development policy.
Research commissioned and published by the partnership does not represent government commitments unless:
- it has progressed through Closing the Gap governance, and/or
- is reflected in the policy commitments of individual governments.
Funding Model Options for ACCO Integrated Early Years Services Final Report
Evidence review on optimal hours of ECEC for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children