Tackling poverty in the early years

Following our Executive Director Trav McLeod’s attendance at the Federal Government’s Early Years Summit in February, he recently hosted a BSL Talks on Tackling Poverty in the Early Years.

Our panellists included Prof. Deborah Brennan (UNSW and Productivity Commission), Jay Weatherill (Thrive by Five and former Premier of South Australia), and Gretchen Young (SNAICC).

At the Early Years Summit, Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said that in 2021, for the first time since 2009, 'around 45 per cent of Australia’s children are experiencing higher rates of developmental vulnerability in at least one area.' With nearly one in every two Australian children developmentally vulnerable, it’s little surprise Australia is ranked 32 out of 38 wealthy countries on child wellbeing.

Our BSL Talks session focused on how the early years need to be a national reform priority. As Trav remarked in his opening of the webinar: 'Unfortunately, the early childhood system we have in Australia today, to the extent you can call it a system, is not fulfilling its potential.'

It was an inspiring and thought-provoking discussion with the speakers in firm agreement that a better early childhood system is the gateway for expanding children’s rights, for addressing disadvantage, and to growing Australia’s future prosperity.

You can view the recording here https://www.bsl.org.au/news-events/events/bsl-tackling-poverty-in-the-early-years/

If you’re interested in signing up to future BSL Talks (most of which occur online), https://www.bsl.org.au/contact/subscribe/