Food where it matters most: Mapping food provision in early childhood education and care

This report presents the first national mapping of food provision in long day care services across Australia

Food insecurity is a significant and growing issue for Australian children. Current data suggests that between 16% and 45% of households with children experience food insecurity, with particularly high rates among low-income and single-parent families.

Food is fundamental to children’s learning and development. Children who are hungry struggle to concentrate, regulate their behaviour and participate in learning. This matters particularly in the first five years of life, when approximately 90% of brain growth occurs.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a particularly important setting. By school entry, 90% of Australian children will have attended ECEC, and children can consume up to 75% of their daily nutritional intake while there. Yet provision of food by ECEC services is not required by the national law regulating ECEC, and little has been known about where food is provided and whether access aligns with patterns of disadvantage.

This report, developed by SVA and the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), presents the first national mapping of food provision in long day care (LDC) services, examining how provision varies across Australia, where gaps in provision intersect with early childhood disadvantage, and where increased food provision may matter most. This report identifies opportunities for targeted investment, improved data collection, and system reform to strengthen the contribution ECEC can make to this broader response to ensure that all children, regardless of where they live or their family’s circumstances, can access adequate and nutritious food during their early years.