Ensuring First Nations children in Victoria are school ready

The Albanese Government is expanding the Connected Beginnings program, helping more First Nations children thrive in the crucial early years.

Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly today announced more than $2 million for Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-operative to deliver the Connected Beginnings program in Bairnsdale.

The program connects First Nations children aged zero to five with a range of early childhood education, health and family support services – helping children meet the learning and development milestones necessary to achieve a positive transition to school.

The new site will support around 100 local First Nations Children. The Bairnsdale site joins 46 other locations across the country supporting more than 23,000 First Nations children. 

The community-led program is a key contributor to the early childhood Closing the Gap targets, driving an increase in preschool enrolments and improvements to developmental outcomes.

The Government partners with SNAICC National Voice for our Children and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to deliver the program.

The new Bairnsdale site is part of an $81.8 million Government investment to expand to 50 sites across Australia. Once all 50 sites are established, the program has the potential to support up to 20 per cent of all First Nations children aged zero to five.

Other Connected Beginnings sites in Victoria include Ballarat, Mildura, Shepparton and Whittlesea.

Once all Victorian sites are up and running the program will support around 1,700 First Nations children across the state.

Learn more about the Connected Beginnings program at: education.gov.au/early-childhood/community-child-care-fund/connected-beginnings.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly:

“All children, no matter their background or where they live, should be able to access the transformational benefits of quality early childhood education and care.

“Connected Beginnings is delivering significant positive results for First Nations children right across the country, helping to Close the Gap by improving developmental outcomes.

“The Connected Beginnings program is empowering communities to design and deliver the program in a way which supports their individual needs and aspirations.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Ged Kearney:

“Labor is committed to closing the health gap that leads to a significantly lower life expectancy for First Nations people.

“Connected Beginnings is all about centring the voices of First Nations Australian and a community-led approach.

“From child care, to pre-school, to primary school, Connected Beginnings is setting First Nations kids up for best start in life.”

Quotes attributable to Federal Labor Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone:

“The Connected Beginnings program is making a big difference for families across Australia and its expansion in Bairnsdale is a terrific outcome.

“The first five years of a child’s life are the most important and this program will provide foundational support to First Nations children in the Gippsland community.

“Kids thrive when they have the best support available, and Federal Labor’s more than $2 million commitment will help children develop the skills needed to make a successful transition to school.”

Quotes attributable to SNAICC Chief Executive Catherine Liddle:

“Through Connected Beginnings, more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Bairnsdale will benefit from culturally integrated services, including maternal and child health, early childhood education, and family support.

“With Connected Beginnings, communities are empowered to customise and implement the program to meet their specific needs and aspirations, driving authentic progress. 

“This initiative means around 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the region will receive access to comprehensive, culturally appropriate services, laying a solid foundation for their learning journey.”

Quotes attributable from GEGAC CEO Kenton Winsley:

“We have long known that the strength of GEGAC’s Early Years services is that the families are immediately connected to the wide range of other services that GEGAC provides. Everything from maternal and child health services to medical and dental, counselling services, and cultural education events; here on site are the full range of supports our families need to raise healthy, deadly kids.

“Connected Beginnings is going to enable us to take that holistic, connected approach to the next level, by engaging with new partners, and further involving the community, so we are all working together in the best interests of these children.

“Our community is where we draw our strength from. We know that when we involve community members and empower them to be advisors and advocates, we get better outcomes for our people.”