Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families will be supported to learn and thrive through play, with the announcement of the Albanese Labor Government's First Nations Playgroup Pilot.
This announcement comes the day after the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day and supports its theme of Strong in Culture, Stronger Together by providing greater opportunity for parents and children to learn, grow and engage with family, community and culture.
More than $2.1 million has been committed to provide accessible and affordable spaces, resources and opportunities for First Nations children to play together and for parents and carers to seek social and parenting support.
Thirteen Aboriginal Community-Controlled Orgnisations across the country have been approved to share in the funding to date, which will increase the opportunities for First Nations children and families to attend a culturally safe service in their community.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said playgroups brought enormous benefit to children, parents and communities right across the country and since 2022 a total of $12.4 million has been invested under the Helping Families Learn and Grow with Playgroups, resulting in the creation of more than 300 new playgroups.
"Expanding our investment in playgroups with culturally informed and community-led First Nations playgroups continues our focus on improving the lives of all Australian children," Minister Rishworth said.
"It is great to see local communities interact so closely with this initiative and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations to be supported.
"Our goal is to continue to support playgroups across Australia to enhance early learning, development and wellbeing of First Nations children and support stronger family, community, and cultural connections.
"I look forward to seeing more First Nations playgroups open across Australia, to strengthen community bonds for children, and improve the wellbeing of families across the nation."
First Nations playgroups help to support Target 4 of the Closing the Gap Implementation Plan which is to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census to 55 per cent by 2031.
The Government is working with SNAICC - National Voice for our Children to support the First Nations Playgroups Pilot program.
Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC said by partnering with First Nations community controlled organisations, the Pilot program gives community leaders the ability to identify and innovate solutions that will help close the gap around early childhood development.
"First Nations Playgroups are place-based, which means the activities of each group can truly respond to the needs and aspirations of their community and local families," Ms Liddle said.
"Each group takes an integrated and intergenerational approach to early learning, with the ability to wrap a support network around a child and integrate with other services to ensure our children are ready to thrive in school environments."
The co-design of the First Nations Playgroups Pilot program encompasses two of the four reform priorities under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: establishing formal partnerships and shared decision making with First Nations people; and contributing to the development of a stronger community-controlled sector.
Information on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap is available at National Agreement on Closing the Gap | Closing the Gap.
