Australian Government Early Years Strategy: Have your say

The Australian Government has developed a draft Early Years Strategy 2024–2034 to shape its vision for the future of Australia’s children and their families.

The Strategy seeks to support improved coordination between Commonwealth programs, funding and frameworks impacting early childhood development, and consultation is now open. 

Members of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector are invited to provide feedback and ideas on the draft Strategy to help shape and refine the final version via a survey 

About the Early Years Strategy

The Australian Government committed to developing an Early Years Strategy to improve the lives of children in Australia. The Department of Social Services undertook broad consultations between January and August 2023 to hear what should be in the Strategy.

They heard from parents, grandparents, service providers, academics, governments and young children. Consultation included the National Early Years Summit in February 2023 as well as a survey, discussion paper submissions, roundtables and children’s consultations. 

A report outlining the outcomes of this consultation is available here. 

The draft Strategy is based on what was heard in these consultations. It includes a vision, principles, outcomes and priority focus areas.

The Strategy, intended as an overarching 10-year document, will be implemented through a series of three action plans, as well as an outcomes framework to measure progress and effectiveness. Action plans will be developed after the Strategy is finalised.

More information can be found on the Department of Social Services website