It has been nearly two weeks since the National Early Years Summit which was held in Canberra on 17 February at Parliament House. The Summit gathered together over a 100 people actively engaged in the shared objective of plotting the path forward to give every child the opportunity to the best start to life and a chance to achieve their goals and dreams.
This is of course a driving force for all in the Family and Relationship Services sector and it was a privilege to be able to represent you there.
The National Early Years Strategy is an Australian Government election commitment with the Summit a key feature in developing that Strategy. Reflecting on that event, what was very clear was the strong political will for a National Early Year Strategy. This was reflected in the messages as presented by the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services and Hon Dr Anne Aly MP, Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth who remained in the room – actively engaged and involved – for the duration of the day.
As noted, the Summit was spearheading a much broader process of engagement underway by Government. There are a range of roundtables being held around Australia over the coming weeks and months to continue to plot the path forward. In addition, there is the Early Years Strategy – Discussion Paper and responses to that Discussion Paper will be accepted until 30 April 2023. We look forward to adding our voice to that process and will be going out to members shortly to start our own internal consultation process.
The Summit also marked the last day that Ms Liz Hefren-Webb held the role of Deputy Secretary at the Department of Social Services. She has moved over to Prime Minister and Cabinet to head up the Social Policy section in that Department. It was good to see her at the Summit, to thank her for her oversight of the Families and Children Activity (and broader social policy agenda) whilst at DSS and congratulate her on her appointment to PM & C. Ms Letitia Hope (formerly Deputy CEO Policy and Programs at the National Indigenous Australia Agency) will take up the Deputy Secretary role in DSS from the 6th of March. We look forward to meeting with her.
I am also excited to release to you the FRSA Conference concurrent session program. We really have been spoilt for choice and have assembled an amazing program for delegates when they attend the FRSA Conference on the Gold Coast from 15-19 May 2023. Registrations are open with the Early bird rate closing on the 14th of March.
I look forward to seeing you there.
