Australia is facing a pivotal moment in early childhood reform that could determine the life trajectories of thousands of children. The Federal Government is investing significantly in initiatives that offer an unprecedented opportunity to build a more equitable, child-centred system.
Data from the Australian Early Development Census has found 13% of Australian children start school developmentally vulnerable on two or more measures, climbing to 20% in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, and 27% for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
Families are struggling, anxious and navigating fragmented and siloed systems that intervene too late. We need to ensure the early years reforms that are currently rolling out at pace are designed to tackle this inequality, not exacerbate it.
Hubs as a lifeline
Initiatives like the government’s $1b Building Early Education Fund and the 3-Day Guarantee are a critical start to supporting these families. However, it’s important to recognise that childcare centres on their own can’t help families facing complex challenges like housing instability, trauma, and social isolation. Last month, Social Ventures Australia (SVA) launched a landmark policy brief at Parliament House, developed in partnership with members of the National Child and Family Hubs Network, to highlight the value of integrated Child and Family Hubs as a key solution and lifeline for families facing these issues, which are also critical influencers of child vulnerability.
Hubs bring together early learning with child health nurses, allied health, parenting programs, and informal community spaces, offering a single entry point to multiple supports. Right now, there are approximately 470 Hubs operating across Australia, delivering holistic and supportive services for families.
But inconsistent policy settings, commissioning and funding structures mean many Hubs struggle to survive, and the network is not yet fully leveraged as a coherent delivery platform.
The missing piece is activation
There is already significant infrastructure and expertise among existing Hubs. The opportunity now is for a stronger partnership with federal and state governments to leverage and activate Hubs as a delivery platform to deliver current reforms.
During the launch at Parliament House, SVA and partners outlined a practical blueprint to embed Hubs within Australia’s early years system and beyond.
Some of our key recommendations included:
- Fund integration, not just services: Stable, long-term funding for the ‘glue’ – the coordination, workforce capability and shared systems that make integration work on the ground
- Thriving Kids Innovation: Recognising Hubs as an innovation and capability-building vehicle for delivery of the new Thriving Kids initiative. They provide a ready-made environment which families already trust, and staff have the relational and integration skills needed for effective implementation and learning, aligning with government priorities for flexibility and value for money.
- ACCOs as trailblazers: Prioritising early investment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to deliver culturally safe, holistic care that builds on the successful integrated service model.
- Reform funding for equity: Building from the Service Delivery Price (SDP) project, implement needs-based early childhood education and care funding that enables provision of integrated early years models in areas of need.
We cannot accept a status quo where over a quarter of children in some communities start school behind. We must start recognising and activating Hubs as core national infrastructure to deliver on the Government’s early years agenda.
By embedding these models now, we can turn policy intent into life-changing realities, reducing downstream crises and delivering an enduring legacy of equity for every Australian child.
https://www.socialventures.org.au/about/publications/putting-children-at-the-centre/
Acknowledgements
The report ‘Putting Children at the Centre’ was produced by SVA on behalf of the Early Childhood Hubs Working Group of the National Child and Family Hubs Network with funding support from Minderoo Foundation and the Berg Family Foundation.
Emma Sydenham
Emma Sydenham is the Director of Early Childhood at Social Ventures Australia (SVA), leading a systems-change program to enable a reality where all children in Australia can thrive.
SVA is a leading social impact organisation and not-for-profit, founded to accelerate innovation in the social sector. SVA helps institutions think differently, re-designing systems and working hand-in-hand with partners and communities to drive real, lasting change. www.socialventures.org.au
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