The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Universal Access Strategy

Under the National Partnership Agreement on Early Childhood Education (NP ECE) the Australian Government is providing $955 million to states and territories over five years to ensure that by 2013, all children, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, have access to 15 hours per week for 40 weeks a year of preschool in the year before starting school.

To help increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children participating in preschool the Australian, State and Territory governments have developed and endorsed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Universal Access Strategy.

The Strategy outlines the participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in early childhood education in urban, regional and remote locations and identifies four key focus areas for the development of strategies and actions for improvement.

Increasing access to early childhood education
Positive community awareness and engagement
Quality early childhood programs and activities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural awareness of teachers and support staff.

The Strategy also highlights other Council of Australian Government (COAG) early childhood development reform and Indigenous agreement agendas that are relevant to achieving universal access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.