Launched in 2021, the Starting Better Guarantee was a national goal to make Australia the best place to be a child and raise a family. It proposed an entitlement for all children and families to a set of high-quality, affordable and connected services in the early years on which they can rely, with additional targeted support for those who need it most. 

This report shows the substantial collective wins achieved so far, and looks at what must be prioritised over the coming years to realise the Guarantee in full.

Key findings

• Significant progress has been made towards the Starting Better vision across every element of the Guarantee.

Building on the progress made over the first five years of the Guarantee, the report identifies reform opportunities to prioritise over the next 1-2 years:

• continuing to expand paid parental leave towards one full year’s entitlement
• putting in place the architecture for an equitable, safe and high-quality universal early childhood education and care system 
• agreeing on consistent outcomes for an equitable, progressively universal child and family health system in every jurisdiction 
• ensuring that all reforms embed a person and place centred approach, prioritising place-based initiatives that provide wrap around care and connect parents with the support they need.