About the Early Years Strategy
The early years are important for a child’s development and success over their lifetime. The 10-year Early Years Strategy 2024-2034 outlines how the Australian Government will help children aged 0-5 and their families to learn, grow and thrive.
Early Years Strategy 2024-2034
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services, and the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth, launched the Strategy on 7 May 2024. Read the media release(Opens external website).
How the strategy was developed
Consultation and engagement
Consultation to inform the development of the Strategy commenced in 2023 and included the following:
- National Early Years Summit 17 February 2023 - read the agenda and read more about the 100 attendees
- a pulse survey in early 2023, with more than 2,240 responses
- a discussion paper(Opens external website), with more than 350 public submissions(Opens external website)
- 39 roundtables across Australia held in person and online, with more than 750 participants
- conversations with 115 children aged 3 to 5 years about what matters most to them.
The Early Years Strategy Consultation Report 2023 provides a summary of what we heard during the consultation process to inform the draft Strategy.
The Early Years Strategy Consultation Report 2023
Access thisConsultation on the draft Strategy included:
- an online survey open from December 2023 to February 2024, which received more than 400 responses
- targeted engagement with parents and carers.
Advisory Panel
An expert 14-member Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel was established to provide advice to government to inform the development of the Strategy. Members of the Advisory Panel worked collaboratively to share their insights and expertise on how to best support children and families in the early years. The Advisory Panel was dissolved following the Strategy’s release in May 2024.
More information
If you have any questions about the Strategy, email EarlyYears@dss.gov.au.
You can also subscribe to keep informed on the Strategy.
Resources
- Media release(Opens external website)
- Early Years Strategy 2024-2034
- Evidence Summary - Why Children and their Early Years Matter
- Early Years Strategy Snapshot
Related topics
Updates
Find updates for the Strategy.