Early Years

1 in 6 Australian children live in poverty

$16 billion Annual spend on services

22% Start school developmentally vulnerable

Current state of the sector

The best way to change lifelong outcomes for children is to change what happens in early childhood.

But our system does not have the supports or services for all children to thrive. It fails to provide targeted, high quality and accessible supports for the children who need them most.

Our vision

Our vision is for an Australia where all children can thrive, regardless of where they live or the challenges their family is facing. This means families being able to access the right supports, when they need them.

The role we play

We’re creating a more proactive and responsive early years system.

Our deep expertise and innovative thinking guide our approach and the work we do. To achieve a better system we:

build unique partnerships and collaborations
identify high-impact interventions and give them the support they need to succeed
test and scale innovative solutions and contribute to research and evidence
work to change policy for wide-scale impact
bring diverse skills and sector-wide expertise
support clients across the early years landscape to increase their impact.

Our Young Children Thriving program

Together with our partners and clients, we’re driving change across the early childhood sector in Australia.

Nurture Together
We’re exploring the potential of integrated early learning service models to provide wrap-around support for children experiencing disadvantage.
SNAICC Early Years Support
We partnered with SNAICC – National Voice for our Children to develop Early Years Support. This program supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations across Australia to deliver early years services for children, families and communities.
Early Years Catalyst
We were a founding member of the Early Years Catalyst – a national coalition working to transform the early years system to drive better outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage. Its initial first phase, which focused on building a shared understanding of the many interconnecting systems that interact with young children and their families, has now concluded.

What our partners say

[The YCT team have supported] professional development of staff, increased access to other important sector stakeholders, development of planning and resources, backend support and coaching, significant contributor to reflection and adaption of program deliverables across program areas. [They are an] amazing team… the sincerity, passion and desire for change in the ECEC Aboriginal space is VERY evident.” Staff Member • SNAICC EYS

Consulting case studies

Scaling the Brave Foundation
We supported Brave to grow the impact, scale and sustainability of their work with teen parents.

Our impact

Through the work being led by SVA’s Young Children Thriving team, our work in policy and advocacy, we’re working to secure better outcomes for children and families.

Meet the Early Years team

Director, Early Childhood Emma Sydenham
Associate Director, Early Childhood Caitlin Graham
Senior Programs Officer, Early Childhood Brie Handcock