Across Australia, in rural towns, regional centres and local communities, there is a quiet but powerful commitment shaping the early years of children’s lives.
It’s not driven by recognition or awards, although those moments do come. It’s driven by a shared belief that every child deserves to be seen, supported and given the strongest possible start.
This commitment is not found in a single service or standout program. It is woven through many community-focused early childhood services across the country. In the everyday decisions, the extra effort, and the willingness to go beyond what is ‘required’.
This is a reflection on that work. The work that often goes unseen and unreported in the media, but changes lives in profound and lasting ways, shaping children’s futures, strengthening families, and building more connected, resilient communities.
In our regular conversations with CELA members, and at events like the recent ECA Rural and Remote Conference, we see this work firsthand, and it is something we are proud to acknowledge and celebrate.
The first five years: A critical window for development
The first five years are a critical window for brain development, identity formation, health and wellbeing. During this time, the brain is developing at an amazing pace, with more than one million neural connections forming every second. These early connections become the foundation for how children learn, behave, regulate emotions and relate to others across their lives.
Australian research shows that early experiences do not simply influence development, they shape how the brain forms. Warm, responsive relationships and rich, everyday interactions strengthen neural pathways and support lifelong health and wellbeing. Conversely, ongoing stress or a lack of responsive care can disrupt development and have lasting impacts.
This is why the early years matter so deeply. They are not just a preparation for the future, they are the foundation on which everything else is built (Telethon Kids Institute, 2017).
(Infographic via Telethon Kids)
This is why so many services go to such lengths to get it right.
Ensuring that all children in Australia have access to affordable, high quality early education and care is one of CELA’s key advocacy principles. For many services, ensuring that access exists for every child in their community is where the work begins.
Honouring each child means removing barriers, not expecting children to fit
At Forbes Preschool, this commitment has meant rethinking what access really looks like.
As Director, Amy Shine emphasised in a recent article for CELA’s Amplify! newsletter,
I always say to my staff: ‘Everyone has an amazing story and everyone’s voice matters. Take the time to talk to parents and be mindful of putting people at ease’.
Going beyond the walls of the service can significantly build trust and rapport, especially for families who might be hesitant about institutional settings. Forbes Preschool's pop-up preschool in the park and occasional home visits are excellent examples of engaging with families 'on their own turf', helping them feel more at ease.
"We will always take a bag of groceries or a meat tray and anyone who comes along gets a box of fruit,” she says. “They get to know us in their safe space before they come along to the service itself, which might otherwise feel a bit intimidating."
This community integration has allowed the service to become a community hub, providing advice and support beyond just education, strengthening the bond with families and the broader community through shared experiences and understanding of quality care.
Today, around half of enrolments are children from families experiencing disadvantage. Children who may once have missed out are now included, supported and thriving.
As the Early Years Learning Framework V2. (2022) reminds us; “Educators who are committed to equity recognise that all children have the right to participate in inclusive early childhood settings, regardless of their circumstances, strengths, gender, capabilities or diverse ways of doing and being.”
Building on this, “educators view all children as competent and capable and hold high expectations for their learning.” (p. 17)
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(Image via Forbes Preschool)
Honouring each child means staying deeply connected to community
At Birrelee MACS in Tamworth, the connection between service and community runs deep.
You only need to get to know the staff members at Birrelee MACS (Multi-functional Aboriginal Children’s Service) to see the impact this not-for-profit long day care service is having on the community. Six of the 10 Aboriginal educators went to Birrelee themselves. This is a powerful testament to the service, and to the former students’ passion to stay connected and share their knowledge.
Located on the traditional lands of the Gomeroi, in Tamworth, New South Wales, Birrelee has enriched the lives of local Aboriginal children for over half a century. As Director Rachael Phillips noted in a recent article for CELA’s Rattler magazine, "We’re not just part of the community; we are community."
Birrelee was established by Aunty Pearl and Uncle Joe Trindle in the 1970s to help families who worked but could not access care for their children.
Our children couldn’t access mainstream services—racism was well and truly alive,” explained Rachael. “Aunty Pearl and Uncle Joe started caring for children in their backyard. They already knew that education started from birth and placed a focus on that.
Children grow up seeing themselves reflected in their educators, their environment and their learning. They see what is possible.
(Image via Birrelee MACS)
Honouring each child means embedding culture, not adding it on
Across services like these, culture is not something separate from the program. It is foundational.
The Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 (2022) highlights the importance of cultural responsiveness, stating: “Educators view culture and the context of the child’s family and wider community as central to children’s sense of being and belonging, and their successful lifelong learning.” (p.23)
At Birrelee, this is seen in the strength of its cultural enrichment program, including the revitalisation of Gamilaraay language as part of daily learning. Rachael describes how this creates opportunities for “little ones to immerse themselves in the rich history of the Gomeroi culture, its values, customs, and ancient lores.”
Through play-based activities, children embark on a journey of discovery and respect, learning Gamilaraay language, dance, and traditional storytelling. The connection to the land, animals, people, sky, and elements is woven into their learning, leaving a lasting impact on their understanding of their heritage. Aboriginal flags are proudly displayed on the shade-cloth and the cubby house in the outdoor play area.
Children learn traditional dancing through intergenerational teaching, with school children teaching the ‘Birrelee Dancers’. The Gomeroi Dance Company, started by a group of high school students, also holds workshops with Birrelee children and staff, sharing their knowledge and culture.
Gamilaraay words are seamlessly incorporated into daily practices at Birrelee, normalising and celebrating language. Cultural events and storytelling are regular features, ensuring that culture is a living, breathing part of children's development, and is passed down and celebrated.
At Gilgandra Preschool, this commitment continues in daily practice through a collaboratively developed Acknowledgement of Country, spoken in both Wiradjuri and English. Children take pride in leading it, often reminding educators if it has not yet happened. These moments are grounded in understanding, helping children connect meaningfully to Country and community.
“Acknowledgement of Country isn’t a once-a-day routine; it’s a way of being on Wiradjuri land and that Acknowledgement only makes sense if children can see it lived out in our everyday practice,” says Director Kristy Hyndes.
At Forbes Preschool, the Aboriginal Language and Culture program supports all children to engage meaningfully, with growing evidence in their interactions of a deeper understanding of Aboriginal identity, language and culture.
Across these services, there appears to be a strong intention to move beyond tokenistic approaches. Rather than simply introducing elements of Culture, there is a focus on supporting children to engage with its meaning, local context and significance.
This kind of approach can help build respect, deepen identity and position Culture as a living, meaningful part of everyday experiences.
Honouring each child means thinking differently about what is possible
At Gilgandra Preschool, honouring each child has meant rethinking what’s possible and refusing to be limited by assumptions.
We’re very outside-the-box thinkers here,” says Kristy. “A lot of places might feel daunted and think, ‘We can’t do that because the regulation says this,’ or ‘That’s too much work.’ We tend to approach it differently. We ask, how can we make it work and still meet the regulations? For us, nothing feels too big to try.
That mindset sits behind one of the preschool’s most distinctive initiatives: the purchase and transformation of a nearby paddock into a thriving bush preschool. Children spend full days immersed in nature, returning to the same spaces again and again to build connection, observe change and develop a sense of place.
The bush setting opens up possibilities that are difficult to replicate indoors. Children navigate uneven ground, respond to changing weather conditions, and engage with natural materials in ways that support problem solving, creativity and a strong sense of belonging.
The children are proactive in making the rules with educators there to challenge and support their thinking,” says Kristy. “They consider whether a branch is safe to step on; whether it is a certain thickness, and how many children can be up there at once.
It is a reminder that honouring each child is about creating the conditions for children to think, test, negotiate and grow. It means trusting children as capable learners, supported by educators who are willing to step beyond assumptions and see possibility where others might see barriers.
(Image via Gilgandra Preschool)
Honouring each child means wrapping support around the whole child and family
Across all three services, there is a shared understanding that learning cannot be separated from wellbeing. This aligns with what we see in the Australian Early Development Census (AEDC), where children’s development is understood as interconnected across physical, social, emotional and cognitive domains, and in the Early Years Learning Framework, which positions children’s wellbeing as central to learning and development.
At Forbes Preschool, this is evident in programs like Healthy Beginnings, where children are supported to develop healthy habits through shared meals and cooking experiences. It is also seen in the SPOT program, where speech pathologists, occupational therapists and educators work together to support children’s development in small groups.
The service now also offers NDIS supports, ensuring that children and families can access therapy in a familiar, trusted environment, even if they are not enrolled at the preschool.
At Gilgandra, allied health professionals work alongside educators in a train-the-trainer model, embedding therapy into everyday practice. Families are supported not only with access to services, but with navigating complex systems like the NDIS.
At Birrelee, the integration of early childhood, health and family services creates a holistic model of care that responds to the needs of the whole community.
In each case, the child is understood as a citizen with a rightful place in their family, community and the broader systems that support their wellbeing and participation.
(Image via Forbes Preschool)
What it takes: The work that's not always seen
Much of this work happens behind the scenes.
✅️ It's in the grant applications written late at night to fund programs that families could not otherwise afford.
✅️ It's in the careful budgeting that allows services to reduce fees or offer fully funded supports.
✅️ It's in the advocacy for families, the partnerships built with community organisations, and the persistence required to navigate systems and secure support. It's also in the constant reflection. The willingness to ask difficult questions, to adapt, and to try new things.
This is the work that is rarely visible, but it is what makes everything else possible.
Honouring each child is not one initiative, one program or one decision. It’s a daily, intentional, values-driven commitment.
It is found in the small moments and the big ones. In the visible and the unseen. In the belief that every child deserves the best possible start, and the determination to make that happen.
Across this sector, there are people and services doing whatever it takes. And through that work, they are shaping stronger futures for children, families and communities across Australia.