Optimising early childhood development requires a holistic approach to policy, programs and services that builds understanding of this important period and advances integrated polices and evidence-informed practices.

This is a summary report of the Emerging patterns in place-based approaches: International perspectives roundtable, hosted by the Centre for Community Child Health in July 2017.

This brief summarises findings on the complexity and challenges facing country children and families, the gaps in and fragmentation of services, the growing disparities in outcomes between children in urban and rural and remote areas, and the critical role that the social determinants of health play in this picture.

This research paper highlights the astonishing rates of child development from conception to the end of age two and the benefits of a holistic approach to children’s health.

This abridged version summarises the key concepts outlined in the full paper; namely, the evidence for the biological, global, social, ecological, and individual factors that are reshaping our understanding of the first 1000 days of a child's development.