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Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Community Insights
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Education and work

Early childhood education

Increasing the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enrolled in early childhood education to 95% by 2025, and increasing the proportion assessed as developmentally on track in all five domains of the Australian Early Development Census to 55%, by 2031, are 2 of the targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The Closing the Gap target of 95% enrolment in early childhood education programs in the year before full-time schooling by 2025 is on track to be achieved (PM&C 2020). In 2018, among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children:

  • 85% were enrolled in early childhood education programs in the year before full-time schooling.
  • The rate of enrolment in early childhood education ranged from 100% in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia to 76% in New South Wales and the Northern Territory.
  • The rate of enrolment in early childhood education was highest in Inner regional areas (97%) and lowest in Very remote areas (80%) (Figure EW 1).
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