Foundation Highlights Need for Community-Led Solutions
SYDNEY — The Moriarty Foundation has called for increased investment in early childhood education in remote Australian communities, warning that progress on national development targets is stalling. The Foundation’s plea follows the latest update to the Closing the Gap Dashboard, which shows limited improvement in early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.
According to the Moriarty Foundation, the national strategy is falling short, particularly in remote areas where locally-led education models are not adequately supported. Ros Moriarty, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Foundation, stated, “The Prime Minister has said he is ‘not contemplating failure,’ yet national data shows we are failing our most vulnerable children.”
The Foundation’s early years program, Indi Kindi, has been cited as a successful model to follow. Launched in Borroloola, Northern Territory, in 2012, the programme has reportedly reduced the proportion of children developmentally behind in their first year of school from 74% to 34%. The program’s community-based approach is credited with these improvements, according to Deloitte Access Economics.
Current Challenges and Proposed Solutions
While the national preschool enrolment rate sits at 95%, Moriarty contends that mere enrolment does not guarantee success. The Foundation emphasises the importance of culturally safe and consistent early education, suggesting that current strategies lack this crucial component.
Indi Kindi, delivered in collaboration with local communities, aims to close the school readiness gap through a curriculum aligned with the Australian Early Years Learning Framework. The programme engages local Aboriginal educators and focuses on delivering education on Country, a method that has fostered strong preschool participation and educational outcomes in Borroloola.
The Moriarty Foundation’s call for action comes at a time of increased scrutiny on national strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development, underscoring the need for investment in proven local solutions.
Source: newshub.medianet.com.au
Last updated: 4 April 2026, 6:39 pm
