INTRODUCTION
Ensuring children get the best start to life lays the foundation for improving outcomes across the life course. The early years – from conception to around age five – is a critical window to positively influence the trajectory of a person’s health, wellbeing and prosperity.
When children are loved, safe and nurtured, have their needs met, and are provided with opportunities to play and learn, they thrive and can reach their full potential. For young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, this includes early opportunities to learn, celebrate and share their cultures.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap sets ambitious targets for improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. This bold vision will only be achieved by harnessing the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, families, communities and organisations. It will also require a coordinated approach across governments, systems and sectors to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children grow up safe, healthy and strong.
In partnership with the Thriving Queensland Kids Initiative, the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) is leading the development of Queensland’s first early years strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The strategy will focus on the systems reform necessary to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to thrive in their early years. The strategy will be co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, communities, organisations and leaders to embed cultural authority and community ownership from the outset.
This discussion paper provides an overview of the early years landscape in Australia and Queensland, with a focus on the policy and systems issues acting to either enable or constrain improved early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. The paper privileges the perspectives and lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and leadership. It will be used by QATSICPP to inform and guide community consultations and in the development of the strategy.
