CEO update: March 2026

'Inclusion is a habit not a policy document." This is a quote from Dr Scott Avery who spoke at Australia's Disability Strategy National Forum, which I attended in Adelaide last month. I must admit I have found myself quoting this regularly of late as it resonates deeply for me as a descriptor of the ecosystems that all children and families should experience.

One such instance was at the Victorian Parliamentary Inquire into Early Childhood Education and Care, when I spoke to the needs of children with developmental delay/disability in ECEC settings. I was able to share examples where children are experiencing high quality services and the challenges that still exist in delivering them.

This last month I have had the opportunity to meet with many members and other groups to hear directly from them their questions on Thriving Kids. As we watch and wait for states and territories to sign bilateral agreements and begin to share their plans, these are the common questions we are being asked:

• How families will access targeted supports when and where they need them?
• How will families know what the pathways are and what the eligibility criteria is?
• How can our service be ready to support the roll out of Thriving Kids?
• What is relational contracting and how could we participate in that?
• What will best practice look like under Thriving Kids?
• Will Thriving Kids stop children stop falling through the cracks and arriving at school without having had supports?
• Will there be a role for teachers currently working in the ECI space in Thriving Kids?

We continue to ask these questions at every opportunity and will share all that we learn through our pop-up networking sessions.

This is a time of significant change across so many systems that children and families access. It is time for us all to come together to collaborate and ensure the re-design of our service systems meets the needs of children and families now and into the future. Our collective voice is key.

As always, please reach out to us if there are any issues you would like to raise.

– Sally Moore, CEO ECIA VIC/TAS

We're stronger together. Join us to share your voice and help us advocate on behalf of the ECI sector at this critical time.