New national project to strengthen equity in early learning underway

A new national project supported by the Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children (IDAC) is set to examine how Australia's early childhood education and care (ECEC) system can better respond to the diverse needs of children, families and communities.

Led by The Front Project and funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation and Minderoo Foundation, the initiative will explore how support and resources can be allocated and delivered across the long day care sector to improve equitable access and outcomes for all children.

The project reflects growing recognition that while access to early learning is important, equity requires more than ensuring children have a place. It also requires recognising that some children may need additional support, resources or tailored approaches to achieve outcomes comparable to their peers.

Taking a system-level approach to equity

The project will examine how Australia's ECEC system can better support children experiencing different levels of advantage and disadvantage, recognising that children's needs, circumstances and opportunities vary significantly.

Central to the work is the understanding that:

• children do not all start from the same place
• some children require additional support to achieve similar outcomes
• equitable outcomes require targeted investment rather than equal distribution of resources
• services need the right tools, workforce capability and system supports to respond effectively to diverse community needs.

The focus aligns with broader national conversations around early intervention, developmental vulnerability, inclusion and place-based approaches to supporting children and families.

It also complements ongoing reforms under the Australian Government's Early Years Strategy and wider efforts to improve outcomes for children experiencing disadvantage.

Bringing policy, research and practice together

IDAC has played a key convening role in bringing together stakeholders from government, philanthropy, research and the early childhood sector.

Early collaboration has already occurred between the project team and the Commonwealth Department of Education, helping ensure the work remains aligned with policy priorities while being informed by evidence and sector experience.

The project brings together the expertise of:

• The Front Project
• the Commonwealth Department of Education
• the Paul Ramsay Foundation
• Minderoo Foundation
• community and research stakeholders.

This collaborative approach is designed to ensure recommendations are grounded in both policy realities and the day-to-day experiences of services, educators and families.

Findings expected later in 2026

Scoping work is currently underway and will continue throughout the first half of 2026.

A final report is expected later this year and is anticipated to contribute to future policy discussions about how Australia's early learning system can better support children and communities with differing levels of need.

The report is expected to provide:

• insights into where inequities currently exist within the ECEC system
• analysis of how supports and resources could be more effectively targeted
• considerations for future system-level reform
• practical implications for services, governments and funding bodies
• evidence to support more responsive, child-centred and place-based approaches.

The findings are likely to be of particular interest as governments continue exploring reforms relating to affordability, accessibility, workforce capability and quality across the ECEC sector.

Why it matters for early learning services

For providers and service leaders, the project signals an increasing policy focus on equity alongside access.

It reflects growing recognition that high-quality early childhood education and care plays a critical role not only in children's learning and development, but also in supporting family wellbeing, social inclusion and community resilience.

The work also highlights the importance of ensuring funding models, support systems and service delivery approaches are responsive to local needs and capable of supporting children who may require additional assistance to thrive.

As the sector continues to evolve, the project may help inform future conversations about how resources are distributed, how services are supported and how Australia can build a more equitable early learning system for all children.

Further information:

• Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children (IDAC)
• Project announcement
• The Front Project
• Paul Ramsay Foundation
• Minderoo Foundation

Read the full Investment Dialogue for Australia's Children (IDAC), Strengthening equity in early learning here.