The Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership (the Partnership) held its eighth meeting in Tarntanya/Adelaide on 11-12 November 2024. The meeting took place on Kaurna land, the lands of the Red Kangaroo Dreaming.
The Partnership brings 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. The Partnership was established as a commitment under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap for all Australian governments to work in formal partnership with First Nations representatives.
The meeting was attended by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander independent and peak body representatives and representatives from all Australian governments. Members came together from around the country to discuss key areas of work, this included:
Progressing the Partnership’s Priorities
- The priorities are the agreed policy reform areas the Partnership will focus on, they aim to drive action to advance the safety, development and wellbeing of children and to meet Closing the Gap targets.
- Members discussed how the priorities had been progressed to date by the Commonwealth and each state and territory government in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. Members agreed to the plans for how each priority would be taken forward over the next year and beyond.
The Productivity Commission Review into the National Agreement on Closing the Gap
- Government members presented on the work underway in their jurisdictions to implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission Review on Closing the Gap.
- Members provided feedback on the approaches taken by governments and reiterated the importance of strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-Controlled Organisation sector.
- Members discussed the importance of engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to ensure their expertise informs policy development and noted that local community engagement needs to continue to be a focus of work to Close the Gap.
The Partnership will meet again in March 2025 to continue progressing the Partnership’s priorities.
To learn more about Meeting Eight, access the meeting outcomes document. Visit the department’s website for more information about the Partnership.