New resources to strengthen inclusion in early childhood education and care

Educators will be equipped with resources designed to foster more inclusive and supportive environments for young children and their families and start conversations about where to access wrap-around supports thanks to a new release of material from the Australian Government. 

Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said the resources would fill existing knowledge gaps within the early childhood sector and will strengthen collaboration and coordination across both state, territory and Commonwealth programs and services.

“The first few years of a child’s life are crucial to their overall wellbeing and development,” Minister Rishworth said. 

“For children with identified disability or emerging developmental concerns, their first interactions with early intervention programs and support services can be a predictor for their future education success.”

“It is therefore vital to ensure that early childhood educators have the knowledge, skills and resources at their disposal to best support young children and their families in accessing available support pathways.” 

The resources will include guides on how to identify and communicate concerns about a child’s development with their family, and advice on how to ensure children with identified and emerging disabilities are being supported in an inclusive way.

The resources will also support educators to work alongside families and carers to ensure consistency in support and service delivery.

Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Anne Aly said participating in early education on the same basis as their peers helps children with disability to thrive not only in their early years but throughout life. 

“We know that quality early childhood education delivers positive education and health outcomes, while also providing families and carers with opportunities to re-join the workforce,” Dr Aly said. 

“This exciting initiative is in addition to resources recently released by the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) to help early childhood educators and service managers understand and meet their obligations to ensure the delivery of inclusive early learning.

The resources will be made publicly available and will be published online on the Department of Social Services website. 

For more information on the Early Childhood Targeted Action Plan, visit Early Childhood Targeted Action Plan (Early Childhood TAP) | Department of Social Services, Australian Government (dss.gov.au).