Submission to the 2026-27 Federal Budget

We know that action is underway to improve early years services in Australia, yet a fragmented system limits impact and results in higher costs later on. Building on our work through Nurture Together, we are calling on the Australian Government to prioritise delivering better outcomes for children and families by strengthening integrated service models and joining up the early years system. This work should be informed by and done in partnership with services and their communities.

In this submission we outline why the 2026-27 Federal budget should:

• Provide long-term, flexible integration funding for new and existing Child and Family Hubs
• Leverage capital investment through the Building Early Education Fund to deliver integrated early years models
• Build the evidence base for integrated early years funding
• Develop an equity funding model informed by the Service Delivery Price project
• Develop lead indicators to drive effective integration, quality and improvement in Child and Family Hubs
• Implement a dedicated funding model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Organisation led integrated early years services.

Learn more about our work in the Early Years here