Submission to the House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability: Thriving Kids Initiative
Date: 03/10/2025
To: The House Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability
Attention: The Hon Mark Butler MP
Subject: Submission Regarding the Thriving Kids Initiative
Dear Committee Members,
On behalf of the Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network Australia (MYAN) and 54 reasons (part of Save the Children Australia), we express our gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative. As the national peak body for children and young people from multicultural backgrounds (MYAN) and Australia’s leading child rights organisation 54 reasons, we commend the government’s commitment to supporting children under 8 with developmental concerns and disabilities within a national framework.
Our submission responds to Terms of Reference number 3 on identifying equity and intersectional issues, particularly for children who identify as First Nations and those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Australian research shows that CALD children in the pre-school age group are around half as likely to access early support such as speech or occupational therapy as other Australian children. Our experience providing services nation-wide to children in this age group and their families reinforces the need for a strong and direct focus on equity and inclusion if the Thriving Kids initiative is to achieve its aims.
Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness
We emphasise the necessity of comprehensive cultural competence training for program staff. This training should prioritise understanding and respect for diverse cultural backgrounds and include specific awareness of cultural perceptions of autism and other developmental concerns.
Inclusion of Diverse Perspectives
It is crucial to actively involve representatives from First Nations communities and CALD groups in both the design and implementation phases of the programme, including ongoing monitoring and evaluation. Such involvement ensures that the perspectives of these communities are integrated meaningfully, promoting a more inclusive and effective support structure.
This should also include direct involvement by children and their families in design of the program. There are tested, reliable methods and approaches available to enable such involvement. Children have a right to participate in decisions that affect them, including policy and program design.1 When children participate meaningfully – supported by families’ involvement as appropriate – and their views and experiences are taken seriously, policy and implementation are better-informed and targeted, more relevant and more inclusive, leading to better outcomes.
Tailored Services
The unique challenges faced by First Nations and CALD families, including historical trauma and migration-related stressors and health and wellbeing barriers, must be recognised and addressed in the framework. Support services should be tailored to meet these specific needs, ensuring they are both effective and culturally sensitive.
Language Accessibility
To dismantle language barriers that might prevent access to essential supports, we recommend the provision of multilingual resources. Where necessary, digital and phone-based supports should be available in multiple languages, and bilingual support workers or translators should be employed or funded to communicate effectively with non-English speaking parents, carers, and children.
Community Engagement
Partnerships with Local Organisations
We advocate for collaboration with local CALD organisations, which can provide invaluable insights and act as trusted intermediaries for families. These partnerships can facilitate more effective community outreach and programme delivery.
Community Consultations
Engaging with community members through consultations during programme evaluation is vital. As noted above in relation to program design, this should include direct involvement by children and their families. This feedback will allow for programme adaptation to better meet community needs. Evaluation metrics should consider intersectional factors, such as race, culture, and language, to accurately assess the program’s impact on diverse groups. The voices and views of children – as those most directly affected by the program – are a critical
1 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12.
source of data and insight about program success and this should be reflected in upfront design and ongoing impact measurement and evaluation.
Addressing Systemic Barriers
Equitable Access to Services
It is essential to ensure that services are geographically and financially accessible to First Nations and CALD families. This includes addressing systemic barriers such as remote living conditions and economic challenges including those related to public transport costs.
Flexible Support Options
Finally, we advocate for flexible support options that can be customised to individual family needs, as we know from our work that one size fits-all approaches are insufficient for the diverse communities we support.
We hope that these recommendations will be considered in the implementation of the Thriving Kids initiative to ensure that the program is inclusive and responsive to the diverse needs of all Australian children and families, and consistent with their rights, including the right of all children in Australia to healthy development and access to services and supports that meet their needs. MYAN Australia and 54 reasons remain committed to advocating for the needs of CALD children and young people, in the context of the importance of all children and young people’s rights and needs being met in Australia without discrimination and are available to assist further.
Please note that 54 reasons also intends to provide a short separate submission dealing specifically with evidence and insights from relevant 54 reasons national early years services.
Thank you for considering our submission.
Sincerely,
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