Putting Queensland Kids First draft plan released

The Queensland Government has released a new draft plan designed to give the state’s children the best possible start in life.

 

Queensland children who are financially and socially disadvantaged or from lower income households are more likely to experience hardship and have poorer social outcomes.

 

Research shows adverse childhood experiences such as poverty, family violence, disrupted access to healthcare or education, parental mental illness or substance misuse can result in a higher risk of contact with the youth justice system.

 

Described as ‘a blueprint for delivering better outcomes for children and families through early intervention,’ the plan prioritises early interventions and preventions to enhance outcomes in:

 

• health, wellbeing and development
• access to education, training and employment
• secure and affordable housing
• safety and connection for  families and the community
•  reframed relationships to empower First Nations peoples.

 

To be co-designed with experts and parents and carers, ‘Putting Queensland Kids First’ builds on the Government’s investment in Free Kindy, and its $288 million package to support educational engagement for a range of students, including by expanding the successful Queensland Pathways State College and FlexiSpaces in schools for students unable to be in the classroom.

 

Key components of the proposed package include:

 

• Wellbeing from conception and the earliest years of life – ensuring children are born healthy, raised strong in their families, and are supported to meet developmental milestones so they have the right foundations for lifelong wellbeing;
• Supporting families and strengthening communities – strengthening families and communities and responding to the needs of parents, caregivers and kin to create the best conditions for children and young people’s health and wellbeing;
• Identifying and responding to needs for healthy development and positive life courses – supporting young Queenslanders’ healthy development through the earliest possible access to appropriate needs identification and targeted interventions;
• Supporting confident transitions into learning, education and training – encouraging confident transitions from home to early childhood settings, to school and across key phases of learning to set strong foundations for future learning and pathways;
• Partnering for integrated, place-based, and First Nations-led delivery – building collaborative partnerships with non-government organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations to address local needs.

 

“I believe all Queensland kids deserve to have the best start in life, no matter their postcode, background or the amount of money in their parent’s bank account,” Premier Steven Miles said. 

 

“Putting Queensland Kids First recognises early intervention and prevention services are extraordinarily powerful in improving outcomes and breaking cycles of disadvantage.”

 

Community consultation is being sought on the proposed investment priorities and opportunities. Queenslanders are invited to have their say on the draft plan here. 

 

“The plan will be informed by the experts, but we also want to hear from mums and dads. That’s why we are undertaking consultation and I encourage all Queenslanders to have their say,” Mr Miles said.

 

“A great start can mean a great future. This new early intervention package is designed to make sure Queensland children and young people have the best possible start in life by remaining connected to education and achieving healthy outcomes.”

 

The announcement was welcomed by C&K, one of Queensland’s largest providers of kindergarten and early childhood programs, with CEO Dr Sandra Cheeseman saying the Putting Queensland Kids First Strategy is “a fantastic step in the right direction.”

 

“We need the Government and the community to be working collectively to address the complex problems in our society,” Dr Cheeseman said. 

 

“Early childhood education as part of a holistic early childhood development system is the most important investment the Government can make.”

 

Learn more about the Draft Plan here.