This report presents the findings of an independent evaluation of SNAICC Early Years Support, conducted over its 2022–2024 pilot phase. SNAICC Early Years Support is a community-controlled intermediary program that supports and represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early years services, aiming to enable culturally strong, high quality and accessible support for children, families and communities. 

The evaluation highlights the program's development, emerging impact and the conditions that support its success and future potential. The purpose of the evaluation has been both developmental (to support formative insights to improve and strengthen the program in its establishment) and summative (seeking to isolate and articulate the impact and effectiveness of the program). 

The evaluation has employed a mixed-method approach drawing on a wide range of evidence sources. Most central to the evaluation evidence is service voice, collected through annual surveys, consultations and observations. Annual consultations were also held with a range of government and sector stakeholders, as well as SNAICC Early Years Support teams. The evaluation has also drawn on secondary data, including service level reporting, where available.

In three years (and while still in its pilot stage), SNAICC Early Years Support has made significant progress in bringing together, empowering and strengthening a historically underrepresented sector. While still in the early days of implementation, emerging indications of impact suggest that SNAICC Early Years Support is progressing toward – and in some cases, already delivering – outcomes in accordance with service need and the theory of change.

Report structure

• Section 1 sets out the background and the evaluation.
• Section 2 describes the implementation journey of SNAICC Early Years Support.
• Section 3 describes the impact of SNAICC Early Years Support.
• Section 4 describes the SNAICC Early Years Program.
• Section 5 outlines the implications and conclusion for the evaluation.