We want all children to have access to and full participation in high-quality early learning—no matter who they are or where they’re from. Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute report ‘Unequal from the Start’ (Tham et al, 2025), reveals the gaps in critical development experienced by children experiencing disadvantage and the potential for deliberately inclusive, culturally responsive and equity-focused programs to disrupt cycles of poverty and disadvantage. From a social justice and equity perspective, this work is central to our purpose at ECMS and it sits at the heart of the Victorian Government’s Best Start, Best Life (BSBL) reforms, the most significant changes to our sector in a generation.
(more…)