A new report from Children’s Ground reveals that First Nations-led initiatives are driving significant, long-term change across four communities in Alice Springs.
Children’s Ground is actively addressing nine out of the 17 Closing the Gap outcomes, including areas such as early childhood education, youth engagement, economic participation, social and emotional well-being, and the preservation of culture and languages.
It is a stark contrast to
Key findings from the Children's Ground report include:
- Early Learning: 351 children aged 0-5 years were engaged in early learning, marking a 57% increase from 223 children in the 2017-2019 evaluation period.
- Nutrition: Child participation in nutrition programs nearly doubled, rising by 98% from 228 children to 452 children between 2017-2022.
- Employment: 83 local First Nations people were employed between 2020 and 2022, a 41% increase from the previous evaluation period.
- Training: 121 First Nations individuals participated in professional development and training during the evaluation period.
Chair of Children’s Ground Arrernte man William Tilmouth said that the data reflects that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are increasingly taking on key roles in driving change in their communities.
“We continue to demonstrate that programs initiated and driven by First Nations communities lead to positive outcomes.
"The evidence is clear—hundreds more children are accessing opportunities in education, health, and wellbeing, and adults are being employed and retaining their jobs.
“You see their confidence and sense of responsibility grow. People feel empowered, and they want to maintain and share that feeling," Mr Tilmouth said.
The data is endorsed by a group of independent national researchers who have advised Children’s Ground’s research.
A key feature of the evaluation is the inclusion of First Nations voices, with over 1,400 people engaged with Children’s Ground from 2020-2022, an increase from 978 in the previous evaluation period.
Community researcher Veronica Doolan said that this is First Nations data sovereignty in practice.
“We are empowered to research and report the facts about ourselves, and use this information in ways that are appropriate for us.”
Despite the strong evidence and transformative outcomes, Children’s Ground has faced challenges in securing adequate long-term government funding.
Children's Ground CEO Jane Vadiveloo called for greater action from all levels of government, stressing the importance of policy reform and funding commitments to achieve lasting systemic change.
"We need governments to take bold action and commit to a lasting partnership that will ensure a better future for First Nations children and young people,” she said.
