Early Start, Bright Future
Improving learning outcomes for vulnerable children.
Last updated: 18 Nov 2024
Vision and purpose
At the Centre, we envision a world where every child, regardless of postcode, family circumstances, or cultural background, has equitable access to early education opportunities. However, evidence suggests First Nations children, children in Out-of-home-care (OoHC), those from non-English speaking backgrounds, children with disabilities, and those from low socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to attend early childhood education and care, yet have the most to gain from participation; we want to change this.
We aim to improve equitable access to early years education and care by building the capacity of the Child and Family Service sector and encouraging collaboration with other early years stakeholders.
Early Start, Bright Future supports professionals in understanding and navigating early years services. Confident, well-informed professionals are better equipped to connect children and families with the most suitable services.
Early childhood presents a crucial window of opportunity to positively shape a child’s future health, wellbeing, and overall development. Early Start, Bright Future focuses on promoting access to two years of kindergarten before formal schooling begins.
Early Start Bright Future Resource Hub
The Early Years Hub offers guides on early childhood development, parenting, community services, and early learning opportunities, emphasising accessible, high-quality early childhood experiences.
History
The Centre is funded by the Department of Education (DE) to deliver the Early Start, Bright Future project.
The project commenced in September 2021 to drive cultural change within the child and family services sector. We identified an opportunity to highlight the importance of access to quality early learning opportunities for children experiencing disadvantage and promoting a child’s right to education as key to transforming their life outcomes.
In early 2023, Early Start, Bright Future secured additional funding to expand the team to better support the sector and serve the children and families with complex needs.
Impact
The Early Years Hub was created in response to the CFS sector’s request for better support in navigating the complex early years service offering. In the past year, we’ve had over 48,000 visits to the site, suggesting there was a knowledge gap this resource is fulfilling
The Early, Start Bright Future newsletter is sent to over 2,200 professionals across the state, keeping them informed about the dynamic changes occurring in the early years at both the state and federal levels.
Our ongoing consultation with the CFS sector and bi-monthly Early Years Participation Network meetings allow us to gather our sector’s views and communicate them to our colleagues in the Department of Education; this two-way channel of communication is essential in ensuring policies, programs, and communications can best meet the needs of children and families that the sectors jointly serve.
A Path to Universal Early Childhood Education and Care: The Productivity Commission’s Inquiry Report
26 Sep 2024
- Children
EOI for reference group to support Early Years Strategy
15 Aug 2024
- Children
Support for Universal Early Childhood Education and Care System
26 Jun 2024
- Children
The Early Years Participation Network
The Early Years Participation Network is a statewide, multidisciplinary group committed to improving children’s access to and participation in early years services and supports through collaborative, cross-sector partnerships.
