How deeply disappointing that the Tasmanian Early Years Foundation has been abolished in last week’s budget, along with 15 other boards. This despite a track record of effectiveness and innovation in the early years sector which has increasingly been recognised by other Australian States. Board members are dedicated volunteers, who work alongside government, non-government and partner organisations.
Equally disappointing is the lack of mention in the budget papers of the importance of services for young children and their families. Indeed children hardly get a mention, other than some later investments in schools which, while welcome, are arguably too late to be effective for many children.
You may ask why is this important, given the need to save money and reign in spending? Because there is powerful international evidence around the importance of acting early in life if we are to improve outcomes for children, particularly vulnerable children – critical structural brain development is taking place in the first weeks and months, with brain connections created at a rate of one million per second in the first 18 months.
These brain connections are shaped by the child’s earliest experiences and environment and have a lifelong influence on a child’s later emotional and mental health, also their educational and employment outcomes. Babies are disproportionately vulnerable to early toxic stress and neglect, as shown by the high rates of referral of children under 5 to child protection. So it is critical that investment is made to support children and their families right from conception to school age and beyond.
The Tasmanian Early Years Foundation has played an important role in advocacy and in developing and funding initiatives that support children, families, communities and those working with them. One wonders now who will be advocating for investment in the first few years of life, an area of crucial importance for a brighter future for Tasmania’s children.
Dr Sue Jenkins Past Chair, Tasmanian Early Years Foundation
