Supporting early childhood education in Alice Springs

A new community-led early childhood education and care service has opened in Alice Springs creating more opportunities and greater access to quality early education for local First Nations children.

The new Todd Street Child Care Centre is led by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress Aboriginal Corporation (Congress) and provides high-quality, culturally responsive early childhood education and care for up to 37 additional local children. 

Congress has been providing comprehensive primary health care, advocacy and support for Aboriginal people in Mparntwe – the Arrernte name for Alice Springs – and surrounding remote communities for more than 50 years. This includes critical early years programs focused on improving developmental outcomes for Aboriginal children. 

This site is an expansion of the services provided by the long-established Congress Ampe Kenhe Apmere Gap Road Childcare centre, ensuring better access to early education and care for Mparntwe children. 

The service focuses on embedding local languages, delivering enriched caregiving and providing families with confidence that their children will be cared for in a safe environment that supports children’s development and learning, in readiness for preschool. 

The Congress Todd Street Child Care Centre was established as part of an almost $30 million expansion of the Australian Government’s Community Childcare Fund Restricted (CCCFR) Program, which funds the establishment of early childhood education and care services run by mainly First Nations-led organisations.

This is another example of the Albanese Government’s commitment to the Closing the Gap National Agreement, in particular reducing community level barriers to participating in early childhood services and increasing access to quality and culturally appropriate care. 

The national peak body for Indigenous children, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children, is providing support to sites under the CCCFR Expansion Program to support their establishment of community-led services.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, Senator Dr Jess Walsh

“The opening of the Todd Street Child Care Centre is an important day for First Nations children and families in Alice Springs, providing greater access for First Nations children in the community who need it most.

“Early education gives children the best start in life, and every child in the Northern Territory should benefit from access to quality and culturally safe early education and its transformative benefits.

“The Australian Government is prioritising investment in our regional and remote communities through programs like the Community Child Care Fund.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy 

“The new Todd Street Child Care Centre will ensure more First Nations children in Alice Springs have access to quality early education. 

“The Albanese Government is committed to working in partnership with First Nations organisations like Congress, and I congratulate them for their important work supporting children to get the best start in life.   

“Ensuring First Nations children are engaged in high quality and culturally appropriate early childhood education is an important part of Closing the Gap.”  

Quotes attributable to Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour MP 

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to Closing the Gap and early childhood education plays a huge role.  

“The new Todd Street Child Care Centre will increase places for First Nations children in a region where access to child care is an ongoing issue.   

“I’m proud that our government is investing in our First Nations children because we know supporting children in a culturally safe setting leads to better futures, stronger families and more connected communities.”   

Quotes attributable to Dawn Ross, General Manager Child, Youth & Families, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress 

"Congress is pleased to be able to increase access to excellent-quality, culturally responsive care for even more children in Mpartnwe. 

"Extending this service means more children will benefit from a holistic approach to their development, enabling any need for interventions to be identified and accessed easily and at the service. 

"The centre provides local families with confidence that their children will be cared for in a safe, nurturing environment that supports the children’s development and learning needs."