Goodstart Early Learning has thrown its support behind a new initiative to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children receive quality early learning and family support.
Access to high quality early learning sets all children up for success in school and life, but unfortunately, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can’t access the high quality, culturally appropriate support they deserve.
Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) have teamed up to launch a position paper that highlights the importance of early learning as well as the issues that stop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accessing early childhood education and care.
They have also called on organisations across the sector to shine a light on this important matter by distributing the position paper and talking publicly about how they are working to address inequality for Indigenous children.
Social impact general manager Myra Geddes said as the largest early learning provider in the country, Goodstart recognised its vital role in supporting children as our future leaders, to understand, respect and celebrate our nation’s past and support Australia’s progress towards reconciliation.
“At Goodstart we stand alongside more than 40 leading child welfare, education and research organisations in endorsing the new position paper recently released by Early Childhood Australia and SNAICC,” she said.
Two out of five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children start school with a vulnerability, which is twice the rate of vulnerability overall.
Ms Geddes said Goodstart proudly supported the initiative because it was fundamental to with the organisation's purpose to ensure all children have the learning, development and wellbeing outcomes they need for school and life.
“It is a positive way to demonstrate our commitment and progress towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are more likely to start school behind their peers.”
In 2015-16 Goodstart expanded its support for children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and released a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“Since our first RAP was released in 2014, more than 265 centres started their journey to develop a RAP in partnership with their communities and 60 have published their own RAPS,” said Ms Geddes.
“At Goodstart we are focussed on ensuring every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child can access culturally appropriate early childhood education, and that families are empowered to access the support services they need so that their children can thrive.
“Our purpose is built on a foundation of equity, integrity and respect and we are committed to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians,” she said.”
Access to high quality early learning sets all children up for success in school and life, but unfortunately, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can’t access the high quality, culturally appropriate support they deserve.
Early Childhood Australia (ECA) and SNAICC – National Voice for our Children (SNAICC) have teamed up to launch a position paper that highlights the importance of early learning as well as the issues that stop Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children accessing early childhood education and care.
They have also called on organisations across the sector to shine a light on this important matter by distributing the position paper and talking publicly about how they are working to address inequality for Indigenous children.
Social impact general manager Myra Geddes said as the largest early learning provider in the country, Goodstart recognised its vital role in supporting children as our future leaders, to understand, respect and celebrate our nation’s past and support Australia’s progress towards reconciliation.
“At Goodstart we stand alongside more than 40 leading child welfare, education and research organisations in endorsing the new position paper recently released by Early Childhood Australia and SNAICC,” she said.
Two out of five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children start school with a vulnerability, which is twice the rate of vulnerability overall.
Ms Geddes said Goodstart proudly supported the initiative because it was fundamental to with the organisation's purpose to ensure all children have the learning, development and wellbeing outcomes they need for school and life.
“It is a positive way to demonstrate our commitment and progress towards improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who are more likely to start school behind their peers.”
In 2015-16 Goodstart expanded its support for children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and released a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
“Since our first RAP was released in 2014, more than 265 centres started their journey to develop a RAP in partnership with their communities and 60 have published their own RAPS,” said Ms Geddes.
“At Goodstart we are focussed on ensuring every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander child can access culturally appropriate early childhood education, and that families are empowered to access the support services they need so that their children can thrive.
“Our purpose is built on a foundation of equity, integrity and respect and we are committed to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians,” she said.”