Research has consistently demonstrated that early education is essential for children and reaps positive benefits for them throughout life. Moreover, this education must be informed by understanding of the student’s culture, history, and language.
In 2018, the Australian Early Development Census indicated that 42 per cent of Aboriginal children are developmentally on track in NSW. Aboriginal children are at the centre of a new $23 million NSW Government strategy which will see more Aboriginal children benefiting from early childhood education. The ‘First Steps’ program will support the federal and state government’s Closing the Gap targets to have 55 per cent of Aboriginal children developmentally on track by 2031.
A key part of the ‘First Steps’ program is an expanded ‘Niganah No More’ Aboriginal languages program, which will increase opportunities for Aboriginal children to learn Aboriginal languages in Early Childhood Education services.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said, “In NSW, we have seen growth in Aboriginal enrolments in early childhood education from just under 60 per cent in 2016 to 83 per cent in 2019. Our goal is to see more than 95 per cent of Aboriginal children enrolled by 2025.”
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin said better access to languages helps strengthen communities by engaging elders and children with their cultural heritage.
“This initiative will support the revitalisation of Aboriginal languages in NSW and contribute to closing the gap,” Mr Harwin said.
This strategy is a partnership with the Aboriginal Early Childhood Advisory Group, co-designed with the NSW Department of Education: https://bit.ly/34xO1BB
