SNAICC says Aboriginal-led ECEC must be central to Thriving Kids reform

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children has welcomed the Australian Government's proposed Thriving Kids initiative as a significant opportunity to improve developmental and disability support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, while warning the reform will only succeed if Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations are genuine partners in its design and delivery.

The call accompanies the release of SNAICC's policy paper, Thriving Kids: Reforming early childhood support systems through self-determination, cultural strength and community-led delivery, which outlines how the initiative could reshape early childhood developmental and disability supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children if implemented in genuine partnership with communities.

Thriving Kids policy paper argues that reforms must build on the strengths of existing ACCO-led services rather than creating parallel systems that risk further fragmenting support.

The Federal Government's proposed Thriving Kids initiative is intended to improve access to developmental supports by identifying children earlier and connecting families with services before challenges become more complex.

SNAICC Chief Executive Officer Catherine Liddle welcomed the initiative, saying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children stand to benefit significantly from earlier, more accessible and culturally safe supports.

"Thriving Kids has the potential to transform how children access developmental and disability support, shifting away from crisis-driven responses and ensuring families get help earlier," Ms Liddle said.

SNAICC said the initiative has the potential to address longstanding gaps in developmental support that have contributed to poorer outcomes for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

According to the organisation, approximately one in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children experience developmental vulnerability or disability, yet many families continue to face barriers accessing services that are available, culturally safe and responsive to community needs.

While welcoming the Government's commitment to reform, SNAICC warned that Thriving Kids risks repeating past mistakes unless Aboriginal communities are involved in every stage of the initiative's design, governance and delivery.

The policy paper highlights the important role that ACCO-led ECEC services already play in supporting children's development. Beyond delivering education and care, many services provide integrated support for health, family wellbeing and early intervention, enabling developmental concerns to be identified and addressed before children reach school.

Ms Liddle said these trusted relationships make community-controlled services natural partners in the delivery of Thriving Kids.

"Our ACCO-led early childhood education and care services are already delivering the culturally strong, holistic support that children and families need, making them perfectly placed to be partners in the design and delivery of Thriving Kids."

She added that the initiative should be delivered through ECEC settings where children and families already have established relationships with educators and support services.

"For this initiative to work for our children and families it must be built on the strengths of the services they rely on and trust. Our ECEC organisations must be recognised as partners, not just stakeholders."

The policy paper argues that embedding developmental supports within trusted community settings is consistent with evidence demonstrating that culturally responsive, locally governed services improve engagement and outcomes for First Nations children and families.

SNAICC also urged the Australian Government to provide greater clarity about how Thriving Kids will operate alongside broader disability reforms, particularly changes affecting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The organisation warned that without careful planning, children currently receiving developmental support could experience disruption during the transition to new arrangements.

"We've seen too many reforms promise better outcomes without addressing the practical realities for our children and families," Ms Liddle said.

"The Government must be clear about how Thriving Kids will connect with existing systems and how it will guarantee continuity of support for every child who needs it."

The policy paper also calls for transparency around future funding arrangements and how Thriving Kids will complement, rather than replace, existing early childhood developmental supports.

SNAICC argues that Thriving Kids should be developed in line with the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, particularly Priority Reform One, which commits governments to formal partnerships and shared decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Its recommendations include partnering with ACCOs from the outset, investing in community-controlled ECEC and integrated early years services, embedding developmental supports within trusted local settings, and ensuring continuity of care throughout disability reform.

For the ECEC sector, the policy paper reinforces the critical role community-controlled services already play in identifying developmental concerns early, supporting families and delivering culturally safe, holistic care.

As governments continue developing the Thriving Kids initiative, SNAICC's message is clear: lasting improvements in developmental outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will depend on reforms being designed and delivered with Aboriginal communities, rather than for them.

Access the full media release here.