The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership met in Narrm/Melbourne on 18 and 19 September 2025 to advance shared priorities in early childhood care and development.
The meeting brought together First Nations leaders and government representatives. It was co-chaired by:
- Catherine Liddle, CEO, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children
- Anne Twyman, First Assistant Secretary, Child Safety and Quality Taskforce, Australian Government Department of Education.
Highlights of the 2-day meeting included:
- a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony led by Uncle Bill Nicholson
- the introduction of the new National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, Sue-Anne Hunter
- a presentation about Victoria’s policy landscape, including significant reforms to advance Aboriginal self-determination.
Key outcomes included:
- members discussed the need for sustainable funding and increased access to early childhood education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- members progressed work with Safe and Supported governance on a scoping study of the needs of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child and family sector workforce
- members explored ways to collaborate with the Justice Policy Partnership to promote early interventions to prevent justice system involvement, as well as opportunities to address the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in youth justice systems
- members received an update on the progress of the Evidence Guidance Framework, which aims to improve how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-driven evidence is used in child and family services policy.
The Policy Partnership will meet again in November 2025.
Learn more about the Policy Partnership and read the meeting 11 summary.