National Early Years Policy Summit to drive reform during Brisbane’s Out of the Box festival

Leaders from across Australia’s early childhood ecosystem will convene in Brisbane this June for the National Early Years Policy Summit, a two-day event focused on shaping the future of services and support for children and families.

Scheduled for 17 to 18 June at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC), the Summit will coincide with the Out of the Box children’s festival and is convened by philanthropic partners of the Investment Dialogue for Australia’s Children in partnership with QPAC.

The Summit aims to bring together a diverse mix of voices including early childhood educators, researchers, community leaders, parents, artists, Elders and philanthropists to discuss the next wave of reform for the early years.

“This Summit is an incredible opportunity for us to come together in the middle of the happy mayhem of the Out of the Box children’s festival and talk about the most important thing in the world, the future of our children,” said Matthew Cox, Executive Director of The Bryan Foundation.

Set against the family-friendly backdrop of the Out of the Box festival which attracts more than 100,000 visitors, the Summit will feature keynote presentations, artistic performances, policy conversations, breakout sessions and networking events. The program is organised around two central themes: assessing the current state of childhood in Australia and setting the direction for the years ahead.

Key topics include:

• Creating a world-leading child development system
• Supporting First Nations children and families
• Strengthening government systems to deliver for children and families
• Building a thriving and supported early childhood workforce
• Enhancing home and community environments
• Exploring the intersection of arts, culture and childhood

Penny Dakin, Executive Director Communities at the Minderoo Foundation, emphasised the importance of the Summit: “Improving the early years positively influences the trajectory of a person’s life and plays a crucial role in strengthening families and entire communities. The conversations at this summit will help take us forward in the collective journey to improve outcomes for generations of Australian children.”

“We know that arts participation and creative expression positively impact mental health and social and emotional wellbeing, and must be a central tenet of policy reform for our children,” said QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy.

Early bird registration is open until 19 May 2025. Participation is open to ECEC professionals, policy stakeholders and community organisations.

More information or to register visit: qpac.com.au/OOTB or earlyyears.eventsair.com/national-early-years-policy-summit