This policy brief outlines the study Unequal from the start: the achievement gap and the early years. The research examined early cognitive and developmental differences among children aged from birth to five years. The findings underscore the need for policy changes to address educational inequity, and to overcome the effects of disadvantage before they become...

The project set out to understand and support Aboriginal women living in Melbourne’s west whose families had negative encounters with child protection services. The findings demonstrate that cultural healing and projects like the Blak Women’s Healing project are central to better understanding and supporting the healing and resilience of Aboriginal communities.

This paper outlines the current issues in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and the policy offerings of the major parties. It suggests that key battles will be over cost-of-living relief on fees and the role of government in shaping the sector, with the outcome of the election likely to determine whether a universal system...

This paper identifies the current major issues for Australian schooling and outlines the policy offerings of the major parties heading into the 2025 federal election. It finds that battlelines are being firmly drawn on school education policy, with the conversation centring on funding, equity and student outcomes.

The ‘achievement gap’ – a persistent difference in education outcomes by socioeconomic background – begins at two to three years and by the time children reach school has become entrenched. This report recommends a child-centred, needs-based approach to early years system design and funding. However, to date Australia has taken the opposite road when it...