Nurture Together

SVA's Nurture Together program is working to make sure that the most vulnerable children have access to the supports they need to thrive.

The problem

Australia has a large number of young children and families experiencing disadvantage, with one in six children living in poverty. There are significant inequalities in developmental and educational outcomes between children experiencing socioeconomic vulnerability and their peers. 22% of all children are developmentally vulnerable when starting school. For children living in the most socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, this rises to 33%. It nearly doubles for First Nations Children.

Our research has found that there are nearly 107,000 children under 6 experiencing significant levels of disadvantage. This is across 706 communities nationwide. It’s often these children, who have the most to gain from quality early learning, that miss out. They don’t access the models that we know will have the greatest impact.

The solution

Ninety per cent of brain development takes place in the first 5 years. Having the right supports in place over this period is crucial.

Integrated early childhood hubs can improve outcomes for children and families. They play a particularly pivotal role for those facing socioeconomic disadvantage.

Early Childhood Hubs support children and families to build connections and social networks. They also provide access to a range of key services. This could include early childhood education programs, allied health services and other supports.

At SVA, we work to make sure all children experiencing disadvantage can access the supports they need to thrive. We:

• build evidence
• enhance sector capabilities
• advocate for structural reform.

Our impact

Early childhood hubs are crucial for supporting children and families experiencing disadvantage. We’re exploring their impact and effectiveness. We’re building evidence and awareness of what works best and how these hubs can be most impactful.

We have worked with key sector stakeholders to publish research and discussion papers. The research examined the need for hubs and unpacked existing service availability. We have gained valuable insights into their operations and funding. Our findings highlight the potential of hubs and identify requirements for implementation.

We have also explored funding options and strategies for scaling hubs nationwide. This work informs strategies to enhance the impact and accessibility of hubs. We helped to secure over $9 million for an intensive early childhood education and care program. The funds will support about 200 of Australia’s most vulnerable children. The program is being piloted across 4 sites. This includes a co-developed site for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Publications

• 
  Enhancing the impact of early childhood hubs in Australia

  Discussion paper exploring the landscape of early childhood hubs models, factors influencing their effectiveness and recommendations to enhance their impact.

• 
  Unlocking the potential of early childhood hubs

  Event recording to launch the discussion paper and report that features insightful discussions about early childhood hubs with sector leaders.

• 
  Exploring need, funding models, and a national approach

  Report examining the national need for early childhood hubs, potential funding models for expanding and scaling hubs nationally, as well as an interactive map showcasing need data.

• 
  Exploring the potential of holistic and integrated early learning services

  Papers exploring the potential of early childhood hub models to support children and families experiencing vulnerability.

News Articles

• 
  Intensive early childhood program

  News article sharing our success in securing more than $9 million of funding to support an estimated 200 children to access an intensive early childhood education and care program.

• 
  New program supports Aboriginal children to thrive in Nowra

  Launch of Boori Milumba, an Aboriginal-led early childhood education and care program aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s developmental and learning outcomes in Nowra.

• 
  New research on best locations for new early learning centres in Victoria

  SVA’s recommendations on location of new ELCs relating to our research identifying communities and children who could benefit the most from a new centre

For years we have seen the same negative statistics on the developmental, learning and wellbeing outcomes for Australia’s most disadvantaged children. This program’s targeted model is the first evidence-based model to provide a scalable approach for changing those statistics so that every child enters school as a confident learner.” Dr Anne Kennedy • on Parkville Institute’s replication of the Early Years Education Program (EYEP)*

*EYEP was initiated by Kids First, previously the Children’s Protection Society (CPS), an independent not-for-profit child and family services organisation based in the north-east of Melbourne which was founded in 1896. The program was designed and implemented by CPS in collaboration with Associate Professor Brigid Jordan and Dr Anne Kennedy.

---

Overcoming fragmented service delivery

Quarterly article exploring the potential of integrated child and family centres

Quarterly article

Mapping child and family hardship across Australia

Article promoting the research report on number of children experiencing significant socioeconomic disadvantage

Read article

Cullunghutti Aboriginal Child and Family Centre

Case study on how Cullunghutti are strengthening their community with wrap-around supports for children and families living with significant stress and disadvantage

Case study

Get involved

We’re looking for partners to help us drive positive and lasting change. Find out how you can get involved as a program partner or funder.

Contact the Early Years team

Support us