Raising happy, healthy children is the key to building strong and vibrant communities. What happens early on for every child shapes their future, including what they will be like as teenagers and adults.
We recognise it takes collaboration to raise happy, healthy children. We work with families, communities, other government agencies and non-government organisations to give children the best possible start to life.
We do this by:
- working as a partner to implement the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Early Childhood Reform Agenda
- developing research, policy development and community information
- consulting and involving families and service providers in planning and service delivery
- supporting the child care sector and families wanting to use child care
- supporting early years networks that promote the importance of early brain development
- running the Best Start Aboriginal Early Years programs that help prepare Aboriginal children under five for school
- funding community facilities and services, such as family centres and community neighbourhood centres, occasional child care and playgroups.